Sorby Adams Handcrafted GSM 2024

The nearly even split between grenache, shiraz and mataro is quite rare and demonstrates exceptional fruit quality - most GSM blends heavily favour one variety. This balanced approach allows each grape to contribute equally: grenache provides elegance and red fruit brightness, shiraz adds structure and spice, while mataro contributes earthy complexity and tannin backbone. The result is a wine that truly showcases the synergy between varieties rather than being dominated by any single component.

Barossa's warm continental climate and ancient soils create the 'plush depths' mentioned in this wine's profile, delivering concentrated fruit flavours while maintaining elegance. The region's old vine grenache and shiraz are particularly renowned for their intensity and complexity. Barossa's Mediterranean varieties like mataro thrive in the warm, dry conditions, developing the spice and earthiness that balances the richer fruit characters in this blend.

The blackberry, plum and spice profile makes this wine incredibly food-friendly, particularly with Mediterranean cuisine that echoes the blend's French origins. Try it with herb-crusted lamb, ratatouille, or charcuterie boards where the wine's silky texture won't overpower delicate flavours. The balanced tannin structure also pairs beautifully with aged cheeses, grilled vegetables, or even spiced Middle Eastern dishes where the wine's complexity can shine alongside bold flavours.

This 2024 GSM is crafted in an approachable style that's delicious now, showcasing fresh fruit flavours and that silky texture. However, GSM blends typically develop beautifully over 5-8 years, with the grenache contributing to early drinking pleasure while shiraz and mataro provide the structure for ageing. The wine will likely develop more savoury complexity, integrated spice notes, and smoother tannins with a few years in the cellar.

Handcrafted indicates small-batch winemaking with careful attention to detail at every stage, from hand-picking grapes to manual punch-downs during fermentation. This approach allows the winemaker to make nuanced decisions about blending ratios, fermentation temperatures, and oak treatment that mass production can't achieve. The 'very skilled winemaker' reference suggests techniques like separate fermentation of each variety before blending, ensuring each component reaches its optimal expression before being combined into this remarkable final blend.