2009 Mayo Family Winery The Gypsy 'Jessica's Cuvee' GSM Blend
Mission Codename: Prince Valiant
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Respond to reports that Mayo Family Winery has released a new GSM Blend; taste the wine and, if it meets our exacting standards, secure an allotment for our thirsty Operatives.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Mayo Family Winery
Wine Subject: 2009 The Gypsy – Jessica’s Cuvee – Sonoma Valley
Winemaker: Michel Berthoud
Backgrounder: Our Operatives know, by now, of our fondness for Mayo Family wines. Over the course of the last four plus years, we have gotten to know Jeffrey Mayo, who runs the winery, and his entire crew. We love the people as much as we love the wines. Today’s blend combines Grenache from the Judge Vineyard in Sonoma Valley, as well as a little bit of Syrah and Mourvedre from winemaker Michel Berthoud’s own vineyard in the town of Sonoma.
The Southern Rhone Valley in France is famous for its Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre-based blends that dance on the palate with a range of flavors, richness and elegance. With the popularity and awareness of such wines, more and more California producers are trying their hand with proprietary Rhone style blends. While these blends do not have to adhere to the strictAOC restrictions, they do capture the style very well. They even, on occasion, excel. Today’s selection is 70% Grenache, 29% Syrah with just 1% Mourvedre.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Beautiful dark ruby hues, from core to glinting edge. When you spin the wine, the color takes on a lovely pale crimson hue. When the wine settles, tall, skinny, wine-stained legs form high up on the glass wall, before sauntering slowly downward.
Smell – Sweet candied cherry, red plum, sweet raspberry jam, strawberry and soft brown spice combine with soft, sweet oak, dusty cocoa, dried fig and soft minerals.
Feel – Medium-weight on entry, the wine glides onto the mid palate where it takes on a off-dry and softly plush feel. A gentle dryness gradually increases, eventually spreading to the lips and cheeks.
Taste – Cherry, underripe blackberry, black plum and dried cranberry take the lead. As the wine opens up, flavors of black cherry, dried brown tobacco leaf, dried violets, brown spice and black pepper follow on.
Finish – Initially rich and flavor-packed. Red fruits fade, first, and then black fruits sustain for a very long time. A tasty smokiness appears as the fruits fade. Moments later, a soft, mineral rich dryness spreads throughout the palate, eventually drying the lips and cheeks.
Conclusion – This wine is…. fantastic! Loaded with fruit this wine has a deep nose and a very delicious palate. Decant for at least an hour, and the wine really springs to life, delivering much more fruit character. A soft smokiness does something to really support the fruit, allowing it to shine in the mouth. The finish is dynamic and really very intriguing, with one flavor clearly giving way to another – and then on to spice, ryness and minerals – all in distinct stages. For their first effort at a GSM, I’d say that Mayo nailed it with their 2009 The Gypsy. I am extraordinarily choosy about GSM, which I almost always find to bee to astringent. This wine shows beautiful balance of flavors, aromatics and feel. If you love great blends, this wine is very highly recommended.
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Mayo Family tasting room, at the gateway to beautiful Glen Ellen, California, can be seen in this satellite photo.