GSM generally stands as shorthand for the Rhone Valley style blend of Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre, however, down here in the land of the Possum I have chanced upon a different mix using the same sobriquet. The S stands not for Syrah, but for the Tuscan grape, Sangiovese.
Sangiovese is the grape used in Tuscany to produce famous wines from Chianti, and its sub-regions, and also Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Great names, all. Its name also translates as 'blood of Jove' the god also known as Jupiter and responsible for thunder and the like.
Why the Mitchells decided on this unusual blend is not something I have been able to establish, but it does appear that they have stopped using this combination as the website no longer mentions it.
The proportion of Sangiovese was only 15%, as was that of the Mourvedre, leaving the 70% leading role to Granache, which is in truth what I was looking for in the first place, although I had hoped to have found one from Western Australia which is where I find myself this week. Clare Valley is in South Australia.
The grapes for this wine were hand picked in 2009, vinified in open tanks, using whole bunch fermentation, rather than taking the berries off their stalks, and then left to mature until October 2012 before being bottled.
The result is a wine that has rested for three and a half years prior to bottling and a further two years in the bottle until I came along and plucked it from the swanky department store shelf.
It is a medium intensity ruby red colour, smells of red cherries, light licorice and nutmeg and has a warming, spicy feel in the mouth that hangs around a long time after it has been swallowed. There is a good balance of ripe tannin, that is clinging to my teeth as I type, and acidity that is providing me with the means to remove it. The finish is quite dry but there is an interesting hint of pepper and chocolate in there somewhere.
I like this one. How much of the smooth integration of its components is due to its treatment since the fermentation finished I will never know, but it would appear that six and half years is a decent interval between vine and glass.
Week G (2015) Mitchell GSM, Clare Valley, 2009. David Jones $25.95 (£12.20)
Sangiovese is the grape used in Tuscany to produce famous wines from Chianti, and its sub-regions, and also Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Great names, all. Its name also translates as 'blood of Jove' the god also known as Jupiter and responsible for thunder and the like.
Why the Mitchells decided on this unusual blend is not something I have been able to establish, but it does appear that they have stopped using this combination as the website no longer mentions it.
The proportion of Sangiovese was only 15%, as was that of the Mourvedre, leaving the 70% leading role to Granache, which is in truth what I was looking for in the first place, although I had hoped to have found one from Western Australia which is where I find myself this week. Clare Valley is in South Australia.
The grapes for this wine were hand picked in 2009, vinified in open tanks, using whole bunch fermentation, rather than taking the berries off their stalks, and then left to mature until October 2012 before being bottled.
The result is a wine that has rested for three and a half years prior to bottling and a further two years in the bottle until I came along and plucked it from the swanky department store shelf.
It is a medium intensity ruby red colour, smells of red cherries, light licorice and nutmeg and has a warming, spicy feel in the mouth that hangs around a long time after it has been swallowed. There is a good balance of ripe tannin, that is clinging to my teeth as I type, and acidity that is providing me with the means to remove it. The finish is quite dry but there is an interesting hint of pepper and chocolate in there somewhere.
I like this one. How much of the smooth integration of its components is due to its treatment since the fermentation finished I will never know, but it would appear that six and half years is a decent interval between vine and glass.
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