The 2012 Château des Charmes Gamay Noir ‘Droit’ sourced from the St. David’s Bench Vineyard, has elegant aromas of lightly earthy raspberry-cherry-blackberry fruit on both the nose and palate. It is a light to medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; with refreshing acidity, soft tannins and a medium, smooth finish. It is a food friendly and sipping wine – the soft tannins allow it to pair well with cured meats (sausages, prosciutto, jamon iberico), drink from now to 2018-20 (cork enclosure). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90-91 pts - recommended for both its quality and value - do not hesitate to get several before they sell out. Tasted in Sep/15.

See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:

http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections

or here @

http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy

This was a really pleasant bottle - and for $16, I'm glad I picked up multiple. There is a very fruit forward element to this wine with ripe red/black fruits balanced by a moderate application of oak. The wine needs at least 30 minutes before really starting to open up. It is nice to see such quality coming out in a grape variety suited to the Ontario climate.

Light ruby and semi opaque in the glass. A Cru like Gamay - a varietal that Niagara does very well (although this is a proprietary clone of CdC).The nose first detects an earthy funk (a touch of brett?), then flavours of red berry and cherry fruit, minerality, spicey pepper, smoke and cola. On the palate, acidity has bight and tannins are finely ground and somewhat soft. A touch hot on the late palate and very good length. Sept. 2015.

Medium+ intensity nose with earthy, sour cherry and black currant aromas. The palate is medium+ bodied and complex with toasty oak spice, black cherry, blackberry, hint of mint, and undertones of herbs and white pepper. It has very good, balanced acids and a long finish. Tasted June/2015.

This is quite rustic, and quite rough, and hardly elegant, but also distinctly Niagara, this wonderful Gamay clone, so much fuller and richer than normal Gamay. It has expressive and alluring aromas of raspberry, blackberry, cherry, black pepper, herbs, and glycerin. Unoaked, the grape is on full display, robust on the palate with earthy and spicy notes complemented by strawberry and cran-cherry tartness. It doesn't all hold together, and the rough rusticity is just too much, but there's ample complexity and intrigue. This is just the sort of red that ought to be defining Ontario wine.

I must preface this review by stating that I have limited experience with this variety. However I was not impressed. This had a green nose, similar to my Dad's home made wine from 20 years ago. The saving grace was that I only purchased a single bottle, contrary to the advice provided above. This was decent, but I feel I could have purchased a pair of similar quality bottles for the money I spent on this.

Perhaps the critics and I drank different wine... With all due respect, I just cannot possibly give this wine more than 87! It's not a 92 wine by any stretch of imagination. It's shallow, flinty, and has no length.

I simply cannot fathom the 90+ scores for this wine. Simple red fruit, with a strong herbal note which reminds me of cool climate (read, unripe) cab franc. A bit thin (yes, I know is gamay) and short finishing. Maybe I don't get gamay (possible) or maybe there is bottle variation (I doubt it) but this failed to impress me.

On the second night, this showed better with more depth but no way this is a 90pt wine. Score upgraded to 87.
Tasted Oct 2015.