Most of the wines we have selected for #newwinethisweek since the beginning of the year have been single varieties from a single place, however some of the best wines in the world are blends. The great wines of Bordeaux and the Southern Rhône as well as most of Champagne’s output are blends and now the New World are starting to play around with new varieties and different combinations.

In reality, many of the famous wines of the New World are already blends. In Napa Valley for example, only 75% of the grapes need to be Cab Sav, other grapes are added to bump up the colour and/or alcohol level. In Australia, many winemakers are adding quantities of Viognier to their Shiraz, mirroring the fabulous wines of Côte Rôtie in the Northern Rhône. But it’s the ‘GSM’ blends that have really caught my attention over the past few months.

The ‘GSM’ blend is a combination of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre, three of the varieties that often blended together to create the greatest wines of the Southern Rhône. With alcohol and power from Grenache, fruit and body from Shiraz, and elegance and structure from the Mouvedre, a combination of the three grapes create wines of complexity, length and plenty of enjoyment.

It’s difficult to pinpoint particular aromas and flavours as the blend is different with each winemaker and each vintage, but expect plenty of black fruit, spicy pepper and grippy tannin; brilliant with meaty, warming stews; perfect for this time of year.

So it’s time to get excited about blends and get into some serious stuff from down under:

 

Rawnsley Estate Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre 2013 (Tesco £10.99)

Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache 2012 (Morrisons £11.99)

Hackett Old Vine Grenache 2012 (Wine & the Vine £12.45)

Marananga Dam Grenache Shiraz Mourvédre 2011 (M&S £14.99)

Turkey Flat ‘Butcher’s Block’ Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre 2012 (Majestic £14.99)

d’Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings GSM 2007 (Waitrose £27.99)

 

So grab yourself a bottle, have a glass, leave a score and a review… vote GSM!