WTN: Chateau des Charmes 2003 Gamay Droit and others with dinner.

I decided to cook up some grub for a Sunday family dinner. We started out with shrimp, wrapped in a red snapper filet, wrapped in bacon, with garlic, lemon and EVOO. With this I was planning on serving a bottle of my home made bubbly. This bubbly had been given to my sister many years ago (I’m guessing ’94 or ’97) and she had not stored it properly. When I pulled the plastic stopper, there was no pop or fizz. I poured a glass. Flat, looked and smelled like bad sherry. One sip, down the drain. Half expecting this, I opened a backup bottle of my ’05 dry Cayuga, which paired up well with the appetizer. The main course was short ribs, braised in red wine, crushed tomatoes and, onions, carrots, celery, spices, etc. Before serving, I removed the meat and bones (which had fallen off) and the carrots into separate platters for serving. I then pureed the sauce with a hand blender, thicken using sour cream and added sliced mushrooms. I served this over a bed of egg noodles. As there were six adults for dinner, I knew I wanted two bottles of red wine, so first I opened Chateau des Charmes 2003 Gamay Droit. I had purchased this during NiagaraCOOL ’05 (around $10 I believe). Deep (for Gamay) ruby color, light bouquet of cherries, berries and smokiness on the nose. Mouth watering acidity with hints of black pepper, medium finish. While no comparison in quality to the Stratus Gamay I posted about recentlu, it is still a fine wine. I also had a mystery wine – a bottle with no label that had somehow been put in my “upstairs” wine rack. After opening, I immediately identified it as a bottle of my ’05 Gamay. Very similar to the Chateau des Charmes, but lighter and less intense all around. Nice family dinner.
Robin's Report on Chateau des Charmes

Hi Howie,

I have had Chateau du Charmes Gamay Droit a time or two myself. I am not a big gamay fan, but this one I like. Good fruit and acidity with an OK finish. But good value for price, as I think in ON it was $12.95 the last time I bought it.

Chateau des Charmes 2003 Gamay Droit

What is Gamay Droit? A specific clone of gamay?

Rahsaan, it is a specific clone. From Chateau des Charmes website

In 1982, Château des Charmes' founder Paul-Michel Bosc, while conducting pioneering clonal selection research at his vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake, noticed a single Gamay Noir vine that exhibited some interesting and unique characteristics. Most noticeably, the vine shoots grew in an upright ("droit") position. Propagation of this single vine began immediately and culminated almost two decades later in the granting of international Plant Breeder's Rights to Château des Charmes. "Canada's first vinifera" was born. Gamay Droit produces grapes that ripen on average about ten days later than Gamay Noir with higher sugar levels and greater colouring matters. The result is a red wine with more body, alcohol and flavour concentration. 1660 cases produced. Harvested September 22, 2005.

“Pioneered by Paul Bosc, Gamay Droit is a clone of gamay that makes a slightly deeper, richer style. This shows dark ruby purple colour with a peppery, plummy-currnant fruit nose, a touch of meatiness and herbs. Medium bodied, soft and fairly rich with soft tannin and very good length.”

– David Lawrason, winerytohome.com, January, 2007

“Red berries and white pepper. Light and fresh, to be served slightly chilled. Thin crust pizzas or great for a picnic. 4 stars.”

– Zoltan Szabo, winerytohome.com, January, 2007

Deeper, darker.. Interesting, thanks.

As a rule, I don't care for Gamay ... but the Droit clone makes an altogether more interesting wine in my opinion. I love Château des Charmes' Gamay Droit - it is always peppery right down the middle and tastes like something closer to Blaufränkisch or perhaps Syrah than to ordinary Gamay.