Veema Languedoc Red Blend 19

I've always considered the Languedoc AOC the country's ultimate underdog in wine production. Over the generations, the region's diverse range of vineyards has quietly produced copious amounts of wine, and I feel that it's still home to some of the best value-driven wines in France. This expansive vinous landscape, which extends from the Mediterranean coast to the peaks of the Massif Central, is the perfect terroir for making an eclectic range of red, white, and pink wines.

Over the last 20-30 years, the Languedoc has emerged as a key player in French winemaking; however, the region's roots in viticulture stretch back to the Roman era, making it one of the oldest wine-producing regions in France. Vignerons in the Languedoc have gained significant recognition in recent years for their prominent role in the organic wine movement. They were among the first in France to embrace sustainable, organic, and even biodynamic farming practices.

GSM is arguably the world's most popular red wine blend and features the harmonious medley of three key players: Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. This tried-and-true trio of grapes combines Grenache's warmth and red fruit flavors, Syrah's structure, peppery notes, dark fruit, and Mourvèdre's meaty complexity and supple tannins.

The GSM blend has transcended its French origins to gain popularity in several other parts of the world, most notably on the US West Coast and in Australia. In regions like California's Central Coast, Washington State, and Australia's Barossa and McLaren Vale, the GSM blend has been adapted to local conditions, yielding wines that reflect the unique characteristics of their terroirs while maintaining the signature harmony and depth of the traditional French blend.

Florencia Stoppini, the talented winemaker behind Veema, is considered one of the top oenologists in the Languedoc; Veema GSM showcases those exceptional skills. Originally hailing from Argentina, her journey from the vineyards of Mendoza to the rolling hills of the Languedoc effectively blends her unique New-World perspective with the region's time-honored traditions, resulting in the best of both worlds.

The fruit for Veema is sourced from vineyards in Terrace du Larzac, a sub-region considered one of the best in the Languedoc. Vineyards here benefit from a unique microclimate, and the hot, dry days and nights with cool evening breezes provide the ideal environment for viticulture. This fortunate combination of elevation, soil composition, and microclimate make the Terrace du Larzac vineyards an epicenter for making the region's famous GSM blend.

Regular readers of my newsletter will remember that I'm particularly fond of our friend Jean-Philippe's tasting notes, so I'm leaving it to his wonderfully-elegant-prose to describe this GSM gem:
Hailing from Terrasses du Larzac, and neighboring the legendary Mas de Daumas Gassac, Veema's time-honored and harmonious combination of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre offer an engaging wine that preserves the boldness and complexity of that blend. Leather and smoked meat give a brawny edge to a nose of pure, fragrant black fruit, brown spice, vanilla, and violets. A gentle crack of grip braces one for the rush of robust plum and saturated boysenberry that courses across the palate, gaining power and peppery depth on the way to a long, savory finish laced with anise, espresso, and a bloody tang of iron.

Substantial enough to stand up to pappardelle with lamb ragú while remaining easy enough drinking to demand another glass or two.