91 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Being so robust, moderate to heavy dishes are best paired with this GSM.
Think fattier steaks, grilled sausage, duck risotto, mushrooms or dishes with Mediterranean spices.
This GSM blend from Thompson Vineyard from the Alisos Canyon corridor in Santa Barbara County is richly pleasing. Aged in large-format puncheons for 19 months, 17% of the French oak barrels being new. A big bold blend with great aging potential. Drink now through 2028.
Appellation: Santa Barbara County
Varietal Composition: 56% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 19% Mourvedre
Vineyard Source: 100% Thompson Vineyard (Blocks 1E (Grenache), 1B (Syrah), 2A (Mourvèdre)) located in the Alisos Canyon corridor in Santa Barbara County
Aging: Aged 19 months in 75% 500L French oak puncheons, of which 17% is new French oak
Cooperage: Francois Freres, Rosseau, Atelier
Harvest Brix: 24.4 - 26.8
Acid: 0.524 g/100ml
pH: 3.78
Alcohol: 14.7%
Production: 281 cases
95 Points
Rich and full-bodied, packed with dark fruit flavors of blackberry, ripe plum, and dark cherry. Notes of cocoa, cedar, and warm spice add complexity, while firm tannins and a touch of volcanic minerality reflect the bold characteristics of Calistoga’s terroir. Full-bodied in texture, and remarkably velvety. The tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit.
92 Points
Deep floral notes (violets), blackberry, black cherry, and cassis. Driven by the mountain's steep, cool-climate terroir, it balances rich notes of blackberry and pomegranate seamlessly intertwined with dark plum, cocoa dust, and roasted mocha, hints of roasted mocha and spice undertones add depth to its complex profile, culminating in a bold, yet elegant finish.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
