Château des Charmes St. David's Bench Vineyard Gamay Noir Droit 2017

Molly Amoli Shinhat reviewed this wine as follows:

A Canadian-born vitis vinifera wine? This one is Canada's first. Gamay Noir Droit can only be grown in St. David's Bench Vineyard in Niagara.

It's a medium ruby headed for the deeps, which gives smoke on the nose, and speaks to the juicy, ripe cherriness to come. On the palate, it's an unusual blend of flint, dark cherry, cassis, with black pepper and spice notes in a medium body along a supple mineral spine. At 13.5% a.b.v., it's higher than many Gamays, and bone dry at 2 g/l. A dark, juicy wine, with ripe fruit, strongly balanced, a kind of Heathcliffe of Gamays, if you will.

Grown in an ancient limestone ridge from mature vines, this wine is unoaked. Who on earth would want to change this fabulous combination of flavours and aromas? Do consider putting aside a bottle or two to see how this would stand up a couple of years from now. But right now, slightly chilled, drink on a sunny day as a sipper or drink year-round with BBQ - meat, vegetables, or tofu.

During a morning walk through a Gamay planting some 30 years ago, winemaker Paul Bosc spotted a single plant growing straight up, taller than all the rest of the Gamay plantings. A fifth-generation winemaker from France, he immigrated to Niagara in the 1960s with his family and founded Château des Charmes winery in 1978. As he suspected, the plant was genetically different - Gamay's cousin? - and because of its smoky, dark fruit profile (?), he called it 'Gamay Noir Droit.'

Kendra & Matthew Elliott rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

This Gamay has notes of cherry + berry but a great hint of smokeyness as well. A bit more body than your typical gamay given the "droit" vines. It also has a bit of oak to it, even though it is not oak aged. Love the pepper undertone to this gamay - perfect slightly chilled with BBQ.

Melanie Lloyd rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

A Gamay Noir that is unoaked to let the expression of the Gamay “Droit” shine. This Gamay “Droit” is a unique clone that is both created by and exclusive to the winery.

Concentrated aromas of black current jelly, ripe raspberry, and decomposing leaves, with dried petals and a hints of eucalyptus . Although unoaked, there is perceivable sweet vanilla been aromas. For a Gamay, it has oomph on the palate. The tannins are present yet gentle. The flavours are of concentrated black cherry and plum with floral notes seeping through and a touch of smoke. A perfect wine to pair with grilled red meat.

Tasted Aug 2020

Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Lovely and a great summer red to enjoy with any BBQ. Aromas of cherry, raspberry and strawberry, with hints of black pepper and a hint of oaky smoke. Medium-full bodied, smooth on the palate, with tons of ripe berry and again a hint of pepper on the finish. Enjoy with BBQ pork, steak, or grilled vegetables.