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2020 Courtney Gamay

Regular price $77.00 Sale

93 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
91 points, John Szabo MS, WineAlign.com
91 points, Elsa MacDonald MW, WineAlign.com
91 points, Megha Jandhyala, WineAlign.com 

What happens when you take one of Niagara’s prized Gamay vineyard blocks, spare no expense in the vineyard and cellar and treat the wine to extended barrel aging in French oak? Meet Courtney Gamay.

Of all the wines we make with Gamay (our favourite red grape), the Courtney vineyard is second to none. Exclusively sourced from a hand-tended, sustainably farmed block of old vines on our Beamsville Bench farm, Courtney is named after Selma Courtney, the previous owner of this cherished piece of land. Martin Malivoire formed a special relationship with Courtney, who lived alone, content with a simple life devoid of modern trappings as his winery began to take shape next door. When it came time for her to move and sell her land, she chose Malivoire and Martin pledged to remember Selma Courtney with a wine named in her honour.

Since its first vintage in 2002, this prized block of Gamay has been bottled separately due to its unique character. Extended aging in French oak barrels, a portion of which are new, is another distinction that sets this wine apart from our other Gamays. Expect a deep, richly fruited and smooth Gamay that has proven to age well if you resist pulling the cork.

Winemaker's Notes:

Aromas bundle black cherry, cranberry and sultana raisin with notions of vanilla and cocoa.  A sip comes silky-smooth, round and juicy.  Cherry-chocolate and dark red fruit flavours persist alongside caramel, cocoa and peppery spice.
 
Hand-picked  and sorted, from our Estate Vineyard’s Courtney Block on October 9th as grape sugars averaged 24.7° Brix.

Once destemmed, the fruit fermented in large-format oak cuves.  The greater portion of the wine aged 14 months in two-to-five-year-old French oak barrels.  The remainder aged in new oak for 10 months, followed by four months in neutral oak. 

We bottled 280 cases in January 2022.
Alcohol: 13.5%  Titratable Acidity: 7.4 grams per Litre    pH:  3.42

Dry: 2 g residual sugar

Vegan friendly.           Certified Sustainable.

                           Ontario Certified Sustainable Winemaking


Food Companions:
Serve near 14° C with steak tartar, a classic charcuterie plate or pork roast with roasted potatoes.

When to drink: now to 2027.

93 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
Youthful is the understatement when coming at this 2020 Courtney but my how juicy, meaty and pinpointed a gamay it truly is. There have been serious and fully formed Courtneys before but never have the assets in fruit, mouthfeel and acid-tannin structural interplay grabbed attention like this young and in charge ’20. Adds up to big, boisterous, ripe to the hilt, of zero austerity and so much possibility. Drink 2023-2027. Tasted April 2022.

91 points, John Szabo MS, WineAlign.com
Deep red garnet. Cranberry-raspberry chutney, bold, substantial palate, good to very good length. Structured, needs time, but should evolve favorably. Tasted blind at the NWAC awards June 2022.

91 points, Elsa MacDonald MW, WineAlign.com
High on my list of quality Gamay which, in this case, I attribute to its leaning towards Pinot Noir characteristics. Some noble structure here - linear on the palate with polished, restrained tannin and a smooth, silky texture yet still showing delicious red fruit and spice. Ageworthy. Tasted blind at the National Wine Awards of Canada, June 2022

91 points, Megha Jandhyala, WineAlign.com 
Ripe red fruit, blueberries, pepper, and oak spice are supported by fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. There is a splash of salinity that adds interest. Length is excellent. Ready to drink. Tasted blind at the National Wine Awards of Canada, June 2022