Winemaker Notes
This GCM blend is an intense red color with violet hues. The notes of fresh red fruits, such as raspberries and cassis, are very noticeable on the nose. It also has some earthy notes and a hint of black pepper. The palate of this medium-bodied wine is highly expressive and very refreshing because of its high acidity, with lots of fruit, such as cherries. It has smooth tannins and is long in the finish. This wine reflects its origins and, being a blend of three varieties, it is a complex wine. It has red fruit from the Garnacha, structure from the Cariñena (Carignane) and some animal notes from the Mataro (Mourvedre). It has not been filtered or clarified, so a natural sediment may appear over time.
Blend: 62% Garnacha, 20% Cariñena, 18% Mataro
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2020 GCM Grey Single Block combines Garnacha, Cariñena and Mataro from Apalta in the Colchagua Valley. Displaying a bright cherry-red color, the nose exhibits boldo and garrigue-like aromas alongside cherry and cedar notes. Dry, nimble and taut on the palate, it offers a cleansing experience with a ripe character. This is a distinctive offering—the warm 2020 vintage contributed to fairly plush tannins while the blend maintains a linear mouthfeel. The Condor Valley in Apalta stands out as one of the most forested areas in the region. Here, vineyards are planted in terraces scattered across the mountains, imparting a unique dry forest character to the wines.
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.
Well-regarded for intense and exceptionally high quality red wines, the Colchagua Valley is situated in the southern part of Chile’s Rapel Valley, with many of the best vineyards lying in the foothills of the Coastal Range.
Heavy French investment and cutting-edge technology in both the vineyard and the winery has been a boon to the local viticultural industry, which already laid claim to ancient vines and a textbook Mediterranean climate.
The warm, dry growing season in the Colchagua Valley favors robust reds made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec and Syrah—in fact, some of Chile’s very best are made here. A small amount of good white wine is produced from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.