2017 Chateau Des Charmes Gamay Noir “Droit” – Vintages 346742 – $19.95 – ****½ – I’m a huge fan of Gamay – and the Droit from Chateau des Charmes is always among the best in the province. But there is something about the 2017 vintage that explodes out of the glass with an intensity that I have never experienced from previous vintages of this wine. It’s brimming with fresh, juicy blackberry and cherry notes. The juicy fruit moves to spice and the symphony of flavours opens up massively in your mouth. The tannin is well integrated and this wine is definitely elegant but there is something playful about how the tannin puts up just a bit of a fuss as it leaves the party. Aging potential should be around seven years for this – but this wine will be glorious for the first three years – drink best between 2020 and 2023.
