2015 Vineland Estates Gewurztraminer – Vintages 434779 – $17.95 – ***½+ – I’m not sure how much Gewurztraminer we are going to see coming from Ontario given the damage most Gew vineyards saw during the winters of 2014 and 2015 many wineries have moved on from the varietal, for those who have held onto their vines, this is something worth tasting. The thing about Gew from Ontario is it straddles a point somewhere between Alsace and Germany. Alsatian Gewurztraminer tends to sit a little heavy on the palate and finish bone dry, German Gewurztraminer finishes a little sweet with nice acidity. This bottle has some nice acidity with a hint of sweetness and sits a little heavy on the mid palate, but with the acidity it does finish a little light. Flavours and aromas of lime with rose petal that sing over the wine from start to finish.
2015 Chateau des Charmes Gamay Droit – Vintages 346742 – $17.95 – ****+ – This mutation of Gamay is native to Chateau des Charmes. It seems every vintage of this wine it seems to get better and better. The 2015 is rich and concentrated on the palate with lots of dark cherry, and blackberry flavours. As soon as you try to focus on what’s happening in your mouth the ephemeral flavours disappear. Gamay is a grape that ages well in a cellar, but it will be hard to keep a bottle of this around at this price. Picking up a bottle like this presents the challenge of whether you should keep the bottle in your cellar or open it immediately. Enjoy this now with beef, lamb or duck. If you decide to save a bottle or two you can hold onto this for 4-10 years to see how it will develop.
