The Gabilan Mountains are a sizable range of rugged granitic and calcareous limestone rich mountains that run down the East side of the Salinas Valley, in Monterey County. The Rhone varietals tend to be their most complex, interesting and revealing their true character potential and vineyard terrior when planted on steep, rocky hillsides. The region is hardly hospitable to any crop other than low yielding, character rich wine grapes. We believe this among the greatest places to grow Rhone varietals in California.
Our 2018 Gabilan Mountains GSM has returned to its GSM roots with a 39% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 26% Mourvedre blend. That said, closer to equal parts of each varietal is unusual in a GSM. We sourced the Grenache and Syrah from Coastview Vineyard. The Mourvedre was harvested from 30+. year old vines at Rodnick.Farms. We utilized 70% whole clusters with indigenous fermentation. The cherry kirsch Grenache comes through on the nose, along with the brooding notes of Syrah and the deep black fruit of the Mourvedre. A classic signature of Gabilan Mountains fruit is the intensity and depth of the fruit along with a vein of minerality/crushed rock presence. Intense and powerful with a brash and youthful expression which will melt into a seductive silkiness and depth with age.