2022 GMS Red Wine Sonoma Valley
Vineyard: This Rhone style field blend vineyard is in Sonoma Valley, the less than 2-acre, organically farmed, plot is planted to a mix of the Rhone varietals Grenache, Mouvedre (or as I always heard it called while growing up, Matero, a colloquial name given by the Italian growers for the “secret weapon” in their field blends) and Syrah. In recent years, wines made from this classic field blend have been popularly known as GMS a reference to the order of its varietal composition. Ours, like many premium Rhone producers, has more Mouvedre than Syrah, hence the GMS.
Winemaking: Grapes for our 2022 GMS were picked in the early morning hours and transported immediately to the winery. Given the late ripening, and good stem lignification, we reserved 15% whole berry, which together with the destemmed fruit was sent to small open-top tanks for cold soak at 45F. After three days, the must was allowed to warm and begin natural yeast fermentation with thrice daily punch downs. When primary fermentation was complete, the
wine was pressed to new French oak barrels for 17 months, where it completed
malolactic fermentation and settled. Once ready, the wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Notes: Complex and aromatic, this bottling of the 2022 Saxon Brown GMS bursts with lush, high-toned red berry and blueberry notes courtesy of the Grenache, savory charcuterie and garrigue accents from the Syrah and from the Mouvedre, a mouthfilling richness and texture that melds the expressive parts into the sumptuous whole. Hints of black olive and spice linger on the long, polished finish. Enjoy upon release or hold for up to 10-12 years.
Tech Info:
Suggested Retail: $60
Case Production: 198
Harvest Date: October 11, 2022
Brix at harvest: 24.0
Composition: Grenache, Mouvedre, Syrah
Aging: 17mos, 40% new French oak
Bottled: May 8, 2024
TA: 0.61
pH: 3.25
Alc: 13.9%