2006 Léal Vineyards Threesome – Rhone Style Blend

Mission Codename: Three’s Company

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Send Agent Red to Hollister, California, for a Rhone-style red blend, a style of wine that is very popular with our Operatives. Local an incredible example and secure an ample quantity for our Operatives

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Léal Vineyards

Wine Subject: 2006 Threesome

Winemakers: Franco Léal

Backgrounder: Wine Spies Operatives love Rhone-style red blends whose primary composition is usually Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre (sometimes referred to as a ’GSM’). Today’s red Rhone could be called a SMG as it leads off with 66% Syrah – then gives way to 25% Grenache and 9% Mourvedre. Read Red’s tasting notes and mission report below for the full details on today’s great wine

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark garnet to with a deep heart of pure burgundy, this wine shows deeply concentrated color right out to the slightly lighter, purple edges at the wall of the glass. On swirling, this wine shows a fast-moving and bouncy surface that settles quickly, leaving behind clusters of chubby, slow-moving legs

Smell – Deep, lush and very aromatic with a pronounced rush of dark blackberry with blueberry, blackberry bramble, cherry, medium chocolate, cigar box (cedar) and soft spice

Feel – Supple and smooth on entry, then the wine coats the mouth and a tender complexity emerges – eventually evolving into a much larger wine than originally thought as medium tannins grip in at the edges of the palate, adding a soft mineral dryness

Taste – Delicious and lush, with concentrated fruit that starts with smoky dark flavors of plum, black cherry and overripe blackberry. These sit atop additional flavors of white pepper, dark chocolate and smoked cassis

Finish – Big and bold, long and lingering, with brightly delicious fruit that changes and evolves, long after you sip

Conclusion – This is a truly delicious and very intriguing wine that is big on flavors and lush aromatics. While I find most GSM blends to be overly harsh and well out of balance, I find this wine to be smooth and beautifully balanced. Add to the delicious flavors, the fact that the wine evolves and emerges in your mouth and, well, you have a wine that is also great fun to drink. Make no mistake, this is a big and heartily flavorful wine, but it also has great acidity and a real balance that keeps it from overpowering your senses. I give this wine a very hearty Wine Spies recommendation!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Leal Winery can be seen in this satellite photo.