Girard '21 Napa Valley GSM Blend Mixed Red

56% Grenache, 24% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre

Captivating on the nose, aromas of vibrant red and black cherries and plum mingle with hints of pepper spice, floral and herbal notes. Medium plus in body, the palate is well-structured with ripe fruit flavors framed by oak toast. Smooth yet velvety tannins provide a long and satisfying finish.

The growing season started with a wet January and February, then nearly no rain for the remainder of the season. The dry weather resulted in early spring budbreak, followed by early flowering, bloom, and fruit set. Calm spring and summer temperatures with no concerning heat spikes allowed for even veraison in July. Due in part to continued drought conditions the yields were naturally lower resulting in optimal ripening of intensely concentrated and very flavorful berries.

Our bottling of a GSM draws inspiration from the historical blends of the Rhone River Valley of France. Historically in the Rhone, and in our bottling from Napa, the Mourvèdre grape offers heft and tannins, the Syrah offers color and structure while the Grenache lends bright fruit and freshness to the blend. When combined, these grapes become greater than the sum of their parts. If pressed, winemaker Glenn Hugo will also admit that reds of the Rhone (particularly those of Châteauneuf-du-Pape) are some of his favorite wines and a perennial winemaking inspiration.

The Grenache and Mourvèdre were sourced from the Juliana Vineyard in the northeastern part of Napa Valley, perched on the backside of Howell Mountain. While a lesser-known area of the Napa Valley, we have long sourced fruit from here for its consistency and character year in and year out. The Syrah grapes for this Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre blend (“GSM” for short) comes from the D’Ambrosio vineyard, which is situated in Yountville.