Tenebres GSM – Bring On The Jam

Last Updated on January 1, 2023

A sweeter and jammier version of another popular GSM blend from Trader Joe’s, we review the Ténèbres GSM.

Tenebres GSM - Bring On The Jam

34% Grenache, 33% Syrah and 33% Mourvedre from France. The wine has 9.5 g/L of residual sugar.

The Tenebres GSM is available exclusively at Trader Joe’s and sells for just $5.99. It is imported by Plume Ridge.

From the bottle:

Dive into the darkness of this thirst quenching jammy red wine. Notes of oak, black cherry and cinnamon will enlighten your palate, as the bright stars dash through the sky. Pair with soy chorizo and cauliflower tacos, spicy shredded bbq chicken, bolognese sauce and stuffed peppers.

13.5% Alcohol

It’s hard not to compare today’s wine to another very popular GSM blend at Trader Joe’s – the Pontificis GSM. With very similar blends, similar regions, only $1 difference in price and their shared Trader Joe’s exclusivity it’s a natural thing to do. It turns out; however, that these are actually quite different wines that will likely appeal to different audiences. Read on for more.

The 2020 Ténèbres GSM begins with lots of jammy, ripe dark fruit and a little cinnamon spice with maybe a touch of earthiness underneath.

Taking a sip reveals this one is all about the ripe, jammy fruit – but it’s pretty tasty fruit at that. It even has a bit of a meaty note from the Syrah but is otherwise fairly one dimensional and a bit on the sweet side.

It ends mostly dry with lingering jammy fruit plus a bit of the spice from nose returning. Overall, it’s pretty simple but sure to be a crowd pleaser.

It does get a bit less one dimensional with time in the glass so give it plenty of air. We found it to be at its best on day 2.

This is clearly a step below the Pontificis GSM in our opinion but it’s a great pick for those who prefer wines that are jammy and a bit sweet and may therefore find the Pontificis a bit too dry for their taste.

2020 Tenebres GSM

Taste: 6 (85-86 points)       Cost: 10
OVERALL RATING: 7.0

RECOMMENDED BUY

As always you can find an updated list of our recommended wines from Trader Joe’s as well as more info on their pricing model and some tips and tricks for shopping the store in our giant guide.

The Best Wines at Trader Joe's - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks

You can also find more of our favorite Red Blends here!

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Jon Thorsen

ABOUT JON THORSEN

Author and independent wine consumer helping millions of people find great wines without breaking the bank since 2011. Sign up for my FREE GUIDE to learn how! Read more about me...