Pimpernel Vineyards Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2017

A blend of Grenache (48%), Shiraz (29%) and Mourvèdre (22%) co-fermented with Muscat of Alexandria (1%).  The winemaker clearly believes in those little one per-centers. The 2017 vintage in the Yarra Valley was certainly an outstanding year and the GSM is holding well with seven years in bottle, retaining good freshness and verve. The scent is lifted (is that, in part, the doing of the Muscat?) with an attractive floral charm alongside black pepper, juniper, liquorice, black cherry and plum. A solid wine full of flavour and well defined by ripe tannins, with oak well placed. That peppery lift on the palate is invigorating. A GSM with ambitions beyond the simple and tasty. Drinking super well now, and still capable of further time in bottle.