I think one of the most rewarding experiences in life is being part of a team/group.* Growing up, I played a lot of sports – lots of the common ones at the time like baseball, basketball and soccer- but as I got older some of the more individual-centric sports like golf and tennis as well. While individual sports certainly come with their own pros – your success can be completely within your own control being the main one – I think the benefits of the team approach are far more rewarding. Within a team, every member is able to make a contribution (big or small) according to their own skill set. In the end, the success of the team is an accumulation of every team member’s contribution, and they are able to share their achievements together. To me a music group is a perfect synopsis of this – each member plays his/her own instrument which contributes to each song and each song to the overall album (whispered aside: I don’t know about all of you, but I love when a song starts off with just one instrument playing and then one by one, all of the other instruments join in – see Harry Chapin’s  Six-String Orchestra – gets me every time. Back to normal speaking voice). As I have no musical talent, I can only imagine the satisfaction a group must have at the end of recording an album and then playing those songs in front of their fans.

Anyhoo – I mention all of this because this week’s wine is based on one of the more famous teams of grapes within the wine world. Yes, you guessed it (you are all so smart), I am talking about the famous GSM blends famous from France’s Southern Rhône valley (to be fair, also very well known in Australia and Washington). GSM stands for (no – not Gimmee Some More – though after you taste this you might be thinking that) – Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre. These are the three main red grapes grown in the Southern Rhône area – and each are wonderful grapes on their own. However, when they combine their talents together, fantastical elixirs that transport the drinker to the wonderous world of Wine-topia are the usual result. The aroma is a combination of both ripe red and darker fruits. Not since The Wiggles “Fruit Salad” have fruits come together in such a magical way. The Grenache, which usually leads the way, contributes some of the brighter red fruit flavors (think raspberry, strawberry). The Syrah then comes in and adds a blackberry, blueberry with a bit of pepper and smokiness. Lastly, the Mourvèdre adds a bit more black fruit and some tannins to help balance it all out. 

In the end, much like the Barcelona football squad of 2009, made up of some of the most talented footballers ever to play the game, but famous for the way they would combine their passes up and down the field on their way to winning an unprecedented 6 trophies in one year, these grapes put their egos aside and contribute their considerable talents to a final product in which the sum is infinitely greater than the parts. Which goes back to my initial statement. Maybe that is why I have enjoyed being a part of a team more than individual efforts. The ability to achieve more than team members singular talents and to have those teammates around to celebrate with – to me that makes everything taste better.

If you are going to try a GSM blend from Southern Rhone, the best place to start with is Chateauneuf Du Pape, which is where this week’s wine comes from. Chateauneuf du Pape actually means, loosely translated (very loosely in my case), “Castle of the Pope”. Yup, this week, we are drinking the wine of Popes! Way back in the 14^th century, the Pope relocated from Rome to Avignon to a wonderful castle on the top of the hill. Today, it is most recognized as a famous AVA producing outstanding wines, such as this week’s bottle from producer Domaine Raymond Usseglio and Fils. It has all the characteristics I mentioned earlier – an aroma of ripe dark fruits mixed with fresh red fruit acidity. And I think a bit of earthiness as well, but tbh, that is getting a bit above my skill level. Absolutely delicious! It would pair well with roasted meats like lamb and ribs, heavy cheeses, and also possibly some poultry. For those of you local to the Northern Virginia area, I found this bottle at Knead Wines in Middleburg, VA, another excellent venue to find not only a great bottle, but some great pizza as well.

*the one exception, of course, where being on a team is NOT better, is a school group project. School group projects are the vegetables of teamwork – they may be good for you, but not many people really want them.

Cheers!

Wine Stat Sheet