GSM Blend/Rhone Blend

From Terry Hoage, this is a blend of 66% Syrah, 23% Mourvèdre and 11% Grenache.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, roasted meats, black pepper, black cherries and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this has big fruit; black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper and char.  Good energy.  Long finish.  This is drinking well on its own and will work with bigger food flavors.  It went well with spicy Indian style food.  Drink over the next ten years.  

This house and this wine don't seem to get the attention that they deserve despite the critics loving them.  It is a blend of 45% Grenache, 45% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with black raspberries, black cherries, slight plums, spices, floral notes and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Complex.  Layers of black raspberries, plums and black cherries with some char and spice.  Long finish.  This is getting close to peak and should drink well for another eight to twelve years.  Great

This is a 50/50 blend of Grenache and Syrah from one of the truly great vineyards in California.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, some black cherries, black pepper, spice, roasted meats and herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great energy and acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Not quite at peak but mature.  Flavors of black raspberries and black cherries with some spice, minerality and char.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten years.  Great on its own, this went well with a bowl of vegetarian Chili.  

Wow.  One of the best CdP's I have ever had.  This is in a great place right now.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is incredible with black cherries, black raspberries, violets, garrique and slight char.  Full bodied.  Sexy, voluptuous texture.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is just about at peak.  Complex and deep with layers of fruit and minerality.  Flavors of black cherries, black raspberries, spice, earthiness and char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and would be excellent with Roasted Duck.  Drink over the next ten years.  

Pop and pour on day 1 and it was a bit disappointing.  Good, not great.  Recorked and tried again on day 2.  So much better.  At eight years from vintage, that is surprising and impressive.  Purple in color with some ruby hues.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, gravel/asphalt, some garrique, and slight dried floral notes.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Very lively.  On the palate, this is complex.  Layers of black raspberries, black cherries, spice and char.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is delicious.  Great on its own, this would be great w

Gigondas is often thought of as a "lesser" Chateauneuf du Pape.  That can be good as in pricing or bad as in quality.  This is neither.  It is one of the best Gigondas produced and it is not inexpensive.  That said, if you like CdP, you will love this.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, spices, slight floral, black cherries and earth.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Deep.  Flavors of black raspberries, earth and char.  Long finish.  This is not yet  at peak but

This is a blend of 47% Mourvedre, 35% Syrah and 18% Grenache from Paso Robles.  While its fun to taste these young, Torrin wines really need ten years to really strut their stuff.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, plums, roasted meats, leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of black raspberries, plums with spice and char.  Long finish.  if drinking soon, give this five hours or more of air.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  Better on its own for now but as it ages this will work

This is a blend of 43% Syrah, 41% Grenache, and 16% Mourvedre.  15.1% abv.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is complex and strong with black raspberries, blueberries, black cherries, roasted meats and herbs, and char.  Full bodied.  Plush texture.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this is still young at age 12.  Juicy black raspberries with blueberries and black pepper.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is great on its own and will require bigger foods.  It would be great with a hearty beef or vegetable stew.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

This is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5%Cinsault and 5% Mourvèdre.  It is drinking quite well now.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight cough drop note, wild herbs, char and some black raspberries.  Very nice creamy texture. Good balance.  On the palate, this is very tasty.  Black cherries, black raspberries and char.  Complex and deep.  Long finish.  This is just getting to peak but should drink well for another seven to ten years.  Great on its own, this should work with a  lots of foods.  Lamb of beef stews would be perfect.  

This is a blend of 63% Syrah, 19% Mourvedre, 15% Grenache, and 3% Petite Sirah from Paso Robles.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is powerful with black raspberries, black pepper, grilled meats, black cherries, gravel and char.  Full bodied.  Lush texture.  great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is flat out delicious.  Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper and char.  Long finish.  Still a big wine but it has calmed down since its youth.  It should drink well for another twenty years.  Great on its own, this will work well with bigger food off