I’ve been continuing my exploration of Gamays from France and continue to be converted … LCBO stores sometimes put wines on sale that haven’t moved, this one was at my local store for $14, from an original $19.95, so a no brainer to give it a try. Slightly dark in color with a nice juicy fruity nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice black berries and a hint of sweetness. On the lighter side of medium in length on the finish, the wine displays some nice smooth dry tannins and mild acidity. A super food friendly wine. For the sale price I paid this is a bargain. I would give it an -88. I’m not sure Gamay is going to become one of my favorite wines of all times, but it’s working it’s way into my wine list.

Gamay

750 mL bottle  |   VINTAGES#:  648477$19.95

The vaulted cellar in which the wines of Château de Chénas mature was built in 1730. This is a bright, fresh Gamay with lifted strawberry, ripe red raspberry, light spice, and a touch of toast on the finish. The acidity and tannins make this a fine option for veal. (Vintages panel, Oct. 2018)

PRODUCT DETAILS

Release Date:April 27, 2019Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:12.5%Made In:Beaujolais, FranceBy:Cave Du Chateau De ChenasSugar Content:5 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Light-bodied & FruityVarietal:Gamay

Continuing my exploration of French Roses … Strawberry in color with a nose of pure strawberries. On the mid palate, you guessed it, strawberries! On the medium length finish the wine displays some vibrant acidity, super dry. Not a bad rose at all, not as long as some, but quite refreshing and a great choice on a patio! I would give it an -88.

From the LCBO web site: Check stock

Rosé

750 mL bottle  |   VINTAGES#:  950576$16.95

PRODUCT DETAILS

Release Date:April 27, 2019Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:13.5%Made In:Rhône, FranceBy:Cyril Marès, vign.Sugar Content:2 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Medium-bodied & DryVarietal:Rosé

Pale in color with a nice bright citrus nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice lime and grapefruit notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice palate coating minerality along with a hint of tartness that grows in the mouth. It’s not a bad Sauv Blanc for the price, I would give it an -88. Crisp and dry, super food friendly.

from the LCBO web site: Check Stock

750 mL bottle  |   VINTAGES#:  668855$14.95

Made from Sauvignon Blanc grown in clay-limestone soil and aged on the lees in stainless steel vats, this wine offers layers of binned apple, citrus, guava and a touch of freshly cut grass. Crisp acidity and a mineral quality make for a lip-smacking finish. This will pair nicely with root vegetable soup, shrimp toast or shellfish. (Vintages panel, Oct. 2018)

PRODUCT DETAILS

Release Date:July 6, 2019Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:12.7%Made In:Bordeaux, FranceBy:DucourtSugar Content:5 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Aromatic & FlavourfulVarietal:Bordeaux

Beaujolais as you may or may not know is a Gamay Noir. I have to admit I’ve not been a fan of a number of Ontario Gamays, tough for me to admit 🙂 Beaujolais Nouveau are fruity wines, fermented for short periods, meant to be drunk young which this is not. Beaujolais-Village wines are SUPER sensitive to temperature. I did two experiments. The first started with the wine at room temperature. At room temp it displayed some nice black berry notes on the mid palate with some nice firm acidity and tannins. We had the wine with trout and were on the patio and the wine warmed up. As it warmed up it became softer, and it became fruiter. The wine is nice and dry. I’d give it an -88.

For the second experiment I did what I was told and chilled it for 20 minutes. Straight out of the fridge it had some nice dark fruit but had some nice smooth tannins and finish. This time I kept the bottle in the AC house to let it warm up slower. The warmer it became the more the fruit came out and the softer the finish. This wine has a VERY narrow profile from a temperature point of view. Too warm and it’s bland. Too cold and it’s bland. A little three bears going on.

From the LCBO web site: Check Stock

Gamay Noir

750 mL bottle  |   VINTAGES#:  365924$17.95

If you like Beaujolais, this is one you’ll want to come back to again and again. It features fresh strawberry, dark cherry and floral flavours. Chill for 20 minutes and enjoy with grilled salmon, churrasco chicken or Spanish tapas.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Release Date:April 3, 2019Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:12.5%Made In:Beaujolais, FranceBy:Maison Louis JadotSugar Content:4 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Medium-bodied & FruityVarietal:Gamay

Ok, I have to admit it, I’m not a big Rose fan. I’ve tried a lot of them and been thoroughly underwhelmed. Most a fruity with little to no substance. So much so I’d largely given up on them, sadly, especially Niagara ones. Sorry folks 🙁 I was out at a social event and one of the people was drinking a rose and she let me have a sip and I was surprised. She recommended this one so I thought I’d give it a go. It’s quite light in color with mild red berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some soft strawberry notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays some beautiful lively acidity, minerality along with some mild tannins. It’s got quite the bite, I was shocked. The minerality has some nice mouth grip. A very dry wine. This is actually quite a food friendly wine that you could pair with a lot of different foods. I would give it an -88 and maybe, just maybe is the start of me saying I don’t like Roses? We paired it with pizza and it went perfectly. Yummmmmm It was perfect after a great paddle we had in our Kayaks. Oh and the bottle is quite unique and comes with a clever glass resealable top making the bottle perfect to use as a water bottle on your table! Thanks Jennifer for the recommendation!

750 mL bottle  |   VINTAGES#:  452573$20.95

A blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, this crisply dry Provençal pink wine consistently offers evocations of wild herbs, red berries, apple and watermelon in an elegant frame. It’ll go beautifully, lightly chilled, with grilled salmon or shrimp skewers.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Release Date:July 6, 2019Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:12.5%Made In:Provence, FranceBy:Les Vins BrébanSugar Content:4 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Medium-bodied & DryVarietal:Rosé