From Wahluke Slope — Plus a Rare “Deconstructed GSM” Trio
The 2024 vintage will go down as one of the most unusual in BC wine history. After severe winter freezes damaged vineyards across the Okanagan, wineries were granted a rare, exception to source grapes from outside the province. Many producers used the exception to fill production gaps. Black Market Wine Co. in Kaleden used it to create an extraordinary offering perfectly timed for the holiday season.
The result is Black Market GSM 2024, a vibrant Rhône-inspired blend crafted in BC from premium fruit sourced from Washington’s renowned Wahluke Slope AVA. With its bright red fruit, warming spice, and silky texture, GSM is one of the most versatile and crowd-pleasing wines for holiday dinners and winter gatherings.
Even better, Black Market produced three micro-lot component wines — 100% Grenache, 100% Syrah, and 100% Mourvèdre — giving fans a rare chance to taste the building blocks behind a classic GSM. Very few wineries in North America offer this kind of “deconstructed blend” experience, and none in BC.
Turning Crisis into Creativity: The 2024 Vintage
When back-to-back cold events in December 2022 and January 2024 wiped out production for many wineries, Black Market’s team travelled repeatedly to Washington State to evaluate fruit sources. What started as a desperate situation became an opportunity to work with grapes rarely grown in BC—especially Grenache and Mourvèdre.
Those travels led winemaker and founder Rob Hammersley to Wahluke Slope AVA, one of the warmest and driest winegrowing regions in the Pacific Northwest, and one of the finest places in North America to grow Rhône varieties.
If you’ve followed Black Market’s journey since their 2015 vintage, you’ll recognize this as a natural evolution of their small-lot, site-driven philosophy. (You can revisit that story here: Black Market Wine Co. releases 2019 reds & bubbles.)
Why Wahluke Slope AVA Is a Rhône Paradise — Ideal for GSM
One of the warmest, driest AVAs in the Northwest
Wahluke Slope accumulates approximately 1,700–1,850+ GDD (°C) — considerably hotter and more stable than even Osoyoos’s famed Vineyard Eleven. This level of heat is critical to ripen the fruit for GSM.
A gently sloped basalt plateau above the Columbia River.
The entire AVA sits on a broad, south-facing basalt bench. With full sun exposure, long afternoons, warm evenings, and heat reflection from the Columbia River, the region achieves:
Extremely low rainfall.
Receiving only about 130 mm of annual precipitation, the AVA is among the driest in North America. Controlled irrigation yields small berries with thick skins, resulting in concentration and natural intensity — perfect for GSM’s fruit-forward and textural style.
A rarely explored style in the Pacific Northwest.
While Syrah is widely planted, Grenache and Mourvèdre are still relatively scarce in Washington, making GSM blends uncommon even in the Wahluke Slope. A few examples like L’Ecole No. 41’s GSM from Stone Tree Vineyard and Sagemoor’s “Codebreaker” Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre blend, demonstrate that the terroir is a natural fit for Rhône varieties.
Black Market’s GSM 2024 fits squarely into this emerging Rhône identity, but with a distinctly “Crafted in BC” perspective.
Black Market Collusion Series GSM 2024
Blend: 51% Grenache · 29% Syrah · 20% Mourvèdre
Region: Wahluke Slope AVA, Washington State
Winemaking: 9 months in 2nd and 3rd fill French oak; unfined & unfiltered
13.6% alc / pH 3.6 / TA 5.9 g/L / RS 0.2 g/L
Production: 250 cases
In the glass: a dark, brooding ruby. The nose is immediately expressive, bursting with fresh black cherry, ripe raspberry, cracked black pepper, and a lift of violet. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied yet impressively layered with juicy red and black fruits wrapped around notes of Mediterranean herbs, warm spice, and a subtle savoury edge. Fine, silky tannins frame the finish, giving the wine both elegance and quiet power. 92 Points.
A natural holiday pairing wine for roasted meats, herb-rubbed poultry, and winter comfort dishes.
A Rare Treat: The “Deconstructed GSM” Component Wines
Very few BC wineries bottle all three Rhône grapes individually. In many years, it’s impossible due to climate limitations. Black Market used this unusual 2024 opportunity to produce three micro-lot bottlings that reveal precisely how each grape contributes to the GSM blend.
Black Market Collusion Grenache 2024
Vineyard: Lee Palomo Vineyard
Winemaking: The Grenache for this wine was aged 9 months in three 500 L French oak puncheons, of which one was a 2nd fill, and the others neutral.
13.7% alc / pH 3.6 / TA 5.8 g/L / RS 0.2 g/L
Production: 90 cases
The juicy fruit-forward wine has aromas of red cherry, leather, and dried herbs. Flavours of wild strawberry, cranberry, pomegranate with a hint of white pepper. Bright and fresh with balanced acidity. A rare and expressive look at warm-climate Grenache. 91 Points.
Black Market Collusion Syrah 2024
Vineyard: Rosebud Vineyard
Winemaking: The Syrah for this wine was aged 9 months in a 2nd fill 500L French oak puncheon and neutral 300L French oak barrels.
12.9% alc / pH 3.5 / TA 5.0 g/L / RS 0.4 g/L
Production: 95 cases
This is a bold Syrah with luscious aromas and flavours of Black Cherry, blackberry, blueberry, plum, and dark chocolate, backed by savoury baking spices and a hint of cracked black pepper. Full-bodied yet approachable, with soft, persistent tannins. 91 Points
Black Market Collusion Mourvèdre 2024
Vineyard: Rosebud Vineyard
Winemaking: The Mourvedre for this wine was aged for 9 months in a 2nd-fill American oak barrel and a 3rd-fill French oak barrel.
13.5% alc / pH 3.7 / TA 6.3 g/L / RS 0.1 g/L
Production: 50 cases
Aromas of blackberry, cigar, and toasted oak. Flavours of blackberry, black plum, chocolate, baking spice and leather. Medium-bodied, with depth and complexity, fine tannins and a long, savoury finish. 92 Points
Together, these three wines reveal the architecture of the blend:
- Grenache = brightness and fruit purity
- Syrah = richness and savoury complexity
- Mourvèdre = structure and spice
It’s an educational and delicious experience rarely offered anywhere in Canada — and a dream for Rhône lovers and wine geeks.
Final Thoughts
What began as a disastrous year for BC vineyards became an opportunity for Black Market to explore Rhône varieties as they had never been able to before. Their 2024 GSM is vibrant, delicious, and holiday-ready, while the three-component wines offer a rare educational and sensory experience.
This release is not only a highlight of their portfolio — it’s one of the most interesting stories to emerge from the BC wine industry in 2024, and a must-try for fans of GSM and warm-climate Rhône reds.
Here is the link to purchase these unique wines – Black Market Wine Co.
Reference
- GSM blending at Black Market Wine Co., Orchard & Vine Magazine, November 26, 2025, by Yvonne Turgeon