Winemaker Notes
The nose is earthy and muddled with hints of blackberry and cherry luden with under notes of forest floor, fungi, tea leaf, thyme, and candied leather. The palate is juicy and lush with black fruits, currant, and fine grained tannins that lead to a light finish of clove and cinammon.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The pale and delicate 2018 GSM was produced with 70% Garnacha and 15% each Syrah and Monastrell from a field blend in Los Chacayes in the Valle de Uco. It feels quite different from most GSM blends produced in Argentina—it's more floral and fresher, with notes of orange peel, a velvety texture and very fine tannins. This is excellent, and the price merits a serious recommendation.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.