Gramercy Cellars Colombia Valley The Third Man 2011

Robert Parker
Looking at Greg’s 2011s, which were tasted out of barrel during a visit to the winery, the 2011 Third Man is a blend of 55% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre that saw 30% whole cluster during fermentation and roughly 13% new French puncheons and 225-Liter barrels.

A beautiful GSM blend, it delivers classic southern Rhone-like aromas of spiced blackberries, underbrush, pepper and earthy nuances to go with a medium to full-bodied, balanced and beautifully textured palate. It should round into form with a year or two of bottle age and drink well for 8-10 years.

Gramercy Cellars is a 6,000-case winery founded in 2005 by Master Sommelier Greg Harrington and his wife, Pam, to make Rhône- and Bordeaux-based wines in Washington State. They believe that great wines share common traits: great vineyards, small production, minimalist winemaking, time, and patience. Gramercy’s philosophy is simple: to develop or partner with the best vineyards, harvest ripe—not overripe—grapes, intervene minimally in the winemaking process, and use as little new oak as possible. The resultant wines display balance, intense fruit notes, strong earthiness, restraint, and elegance. Our wines often require time to develop, but reward that with patience. We seek to produce wines that complement food, provide great pleasure, and stand out as uniquely made in Washington.