Made from a block of own-rooted vines planted in the mid-1980s, this is a superior example of a varietal that few people beyond the Beaujolais region of France know. Like the best cru Beaujolais wines, it offers succulent ripe cherry and strawberry fruit, with earthy undertones, and a fragrant, slightly floral bouquet. More full-bodied than its French cousins, it tastes simultaneously succulent and substantial, so is a serious wine worth seeking out, not just a picnic partner. All in all, a real eye-opener!
The Evening Land Vineyards, Eola – Amity Hills (Oregon) Gamay Noir 2009
By Paul Lukacs