Matinee GSM
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 3 to 8 years from the vintage release, when its vibrant fruit and youthful energy are at their peak.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Paul Lato's Matinee GSM is a masterful tribute to the classic southern Rhone blend, reimagined through the vibrant lens of Santa Barbara County's cool-climate terroir. The name Matinee playfully nods to Lato's cinematic theme, suggesting an approachable, early-show performance that is incredibly engaging without requiring decades of cellaring. Sourced from select, prestigious vineyards across the Central Coast, this blend combines the bright, red-fruit energy of Grenache, the savory depth and structure of Syrah, and the rustic, earthy spice of Mourvedre. Lato applies his signature gentle touch in the cellar, utilizing native yeast fermentation and aging in neutral and seasoned French oak to preserve the purity of fruit and the distinct maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean. The result is a wine of striking balance, silky texture, and immediate charm.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2002 by Polish-born former Toronto sommelier Paul Lato, this boutique Central Coast winery emerged after early mentorship from Au Bon Climat's Jim Clendenen and encouragement from Bien Nacido's Bob Miller. Operating without estate acreage, Lato contracts premier, meticulously farmed plots across premier maritime-influenced cool-climate terroirs, spanning the Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Los Carneros. The viticultural philosophy focuses on rigorous yield restriction, physiological maturity, and sustainable management tailored block by block. In the cellar, Lato applies an intuitive, non-interventionist approach with small-lot fermentations, ambient yeast, and sensitive French oak aging to deliver exceptional textural tension, purity, and culinary balance. Celebrated white cuvées—including the Hyde Vineyard Goldberg Variations Chardonnay, Sierra Madre Kokoro Chardonnay, Le Bon Vivant, and O Sole Mio Sauvignon Blanc—stand alongside benchmark Pinot Noir and Syrah as some of California's most critically acclaimed, authentic, and seamless single-vineyard expressions.
🍇 Grapes
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre