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GAMAY NOIR RESERVE

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SKU: 083161199516

The 2018 Gamay Noir Reserve from Chateau Grand Traverse represents the pinnacle of what Gamay can achieve in North America—structured, serious, and expressive of site. While often treated as a youthful, quaffable grape in the global market, here it is given the same care and cellar time typically reserved for Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo. This is Gamay redefined—patiently raised in barrel, grown with discipline, and crafted for the cellar.

Sourced exclusively from select estate vineyard blocks on the Old Mission Peninsula, this wine draws its character from glacially carved, well-drained soils of sandy loam and gravel. The proximity to East and West Grand Traverse Bays offers dramatic diurnal swings—slowly building phenolic ripeness while preserving vital acidity. Vineyard management is meticulous, with yields purposefully limited to intensify flavor concentration and phenolic maturity. The grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness and fermented using traditional Burgundian techniques: destemmed, cold-soaked, and gently punched down over an extended maceration to extract color and complexity without over-extraction.

But what truly sets this Reserve apart is the élevage. Aged for over 40 months in seasoned French oak barriques, the wine evolves with grace and patience. This long maturation—nearly unheard of for New World Gamay—allows for oxygen integration, textural refinement, and tertiary nuance. The oak is never dominant, but serves to frame the fruit and elevate its savory elements.

In the glass, the 2018 vintage opens with a deep garnet hue and a nose layered in black cherry, violet, dried rose petals, and forest floor. As it opens, subtle threads of clove, espresso bean, and crushed black pepper emerge. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with polished tannins and precise acidity. Flavors of black raspberry, kirsch, anise, and cedar unfold in a seamless, elegant arc. The finish is long, mineral-driven, and quietly powerful—less about flamboyance than finesse.

This is a wine for those who understand restraint, for those who know that great red wines aren’t always about weight, but about detail. It speaks fluently to lovers of Cru Beaujolais (notably Morgon or Moulin-à-Vent), yet wears a distinctly Northern Michigan accent—cool, lifted, and purposeful.

Cellaring Potential:

  • Drink now with decanting, or cellar confidently for 8–12 years.
  • With time, expect further evolution into leather, dried herbs, and savory mineral depth.

Food Pairing Ideas: 

  • Omnivore:
    • Duck breast with black cherry gastrique and wild rice pilaf
    • Seared venison loin with porcini mushroom jus
    • Roast squab with rosemary and pan-drippings over parsnip mash
  • Vegetarian:
    • Truffle risotto with shaved pecorino and caramelized shallots
    • Roasted beet and walnut terrine with goat cheese mousse
    • Porcini and lentil bourguignon
  • Vegan:
    • Smoked eggplant roulade with pomegranate molasses
    • Farro with black garlic, roasted root vegetables, and charred leek oil
    • Roasted cauliflower with hazelnut romesco and heirloom carrots

 

Wine Specs
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Gamay Noir
Appellation
Old Mission Peninsula
Harvest Date
Saturday, November 04, 2018
Sugar
22
Acid
7.3
pH
3.58
Aging
40 months in seasoned French oak barriques
Bottling Date
August 4, 2023
Residual Sugar
0.5
Alcohol %
13.3
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Dark cherry, violet, espresso, medium-bodied, long dry finish.
Awards
Gold Medal: 2020 Tasters Guild International Wine Competition Silver Medal: 2020 International Eastern Wine Competition Silver Medal: 2019 San Francisco International Wine Competition
Production Notes
365 cases produced

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