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13th Street Gamay Noir Sandstone 2020

Canada, Ontario

93 NW

90 WA

Silver Medal - National Wine Awards of Canada 2022!

Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Region	Niagara Peninsula
Sub-Ava	Creek Shores VQA
Producer	13th Street Winery
Vintage	2020
Color	Red Wine
Varietal(s)	Gamay Noir

¥5,500 (incl. tax)

Silver Medal - National Wine Awards of Canada 2022!

Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Region	Niagara Peninsula
Sub-Ava	Creek Shores VQA
Producer	13th Street Winery
Vintage	2020
Color	Red Wine
Varietal(s)	Gamay Noir

Data

Closure	Cork
Volume	750ml
Alcohol	13%
Product Code	A003R01620
UPC	895770200534
Inventory	In Stock (37)

Owning & Enjoying

Tasting notes

Bright ruby in the glass with aromas of black cherry, plum compote, vanilla and charred oak. Medium bodied with fine tannins and jammy flavours of black cherry, ripe raspberry and pomegranate with notes of sweet spice, red and black liquorice, vanilla bean and a peppery finish. Decant and serve in large Burgundy-style glasses, slightly cool (18-20oC). Excellent served alongside classic Bistro fare, grilled or roasted poultry and red meats, game, lightly smoked meats and semi-firm cheeses. Unlike many wines made from Gamay, this powerfully structured version will reward cellaring for up to 10 years with a cornucopia of new aromas and mellowed textures.

Pairing

Excellent served alongside classic Bistro fare, grilled or roasted poultry and red meats, game, lightly smoked meats and semi-firm cheeses.

Cellaring

Unlike many wines made from Gamay, this powerfully structured version will reward cellaring for up to 10 years with a cornucopia of new aromas and mellowed textures.

Press

93Wines In Niagara

Sourced from the estate’s Whitty Vineyard in Creek Shores, the Sandstone is the top Gamay from 13th Street. The wine is aged in seasoned French oak barrels for 12 months. The wine is lightly fined and filtered prior to bottling. What a beautiful expression of Gamay and shows exactly how engaged winemakers are taking this grape to greater heights. It has a penetrating nose of ripe and bold red berries, purple plums, floral notes, earthy/mineral notes, and fine oak spices. It’s rich and expressive on the palate with reductive notes, saturated cherries, raspberries, plums and anise with broad shoulders and structure, firm tannins and a fresh lifted finish. As Colas says: “It’s Gamay, but more than Gamay.” Can cellar 5+ years and would be fascinating to see its development. Serious Gamay here.

90WineAlign

A juicy, vibrant if a touch simple red with some dusty, dried flower notes, punchty red fruit, spice and decent length.

Reviews & Ratings

SILVER MEDAL - National Wine Awards of Canada 2022

Production

Appellation

VQA Creek Shores

Vintage Notes

Winter of 2020 started with warmer than average temperatures from January through March followed by a cooler than average April. Bud break was in the second and third week of May. From thereon, temperatures increased and the summer months were above average temperatures with little precipitation, allowing for full phenolic development. Harvest remained dry and sunny with cool nights, important for maintaining acidity. There was little to no disease pressure, resulting in clean and ripe fruit. Harvest started in the second week of September with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay for sparkling, followed quickly by aromatic whites and then later ripening whites. Gamay was the first red variety harvested in early-to-mid October followed closely by Pinot Noir and Merlot. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon were the last varieties to be harvested, taking place the last week of October through early November. Berry size was recognized to be smaller than previous years with an intense dark colour, suggesting the potential for increased concentration of flavour and colour extraction. The quality of the grapes was very good to excellent throughout the portfolio. Wines should have the capacity to age for the medium to long term.

Vinification

Sourced from our own Whitty Vineyard in Creek Shores, Sandstone, our top Gamay, is selected from new and seasoned French oak barrels after 14 months of ageing. The grapes were harvested in early October at an average of 23.3° brix. Crushed and destemmed before cold soak, followed by alcoholic fermentation and maceration in stainless steel over 30 days. After pressing, the wine was transferred to a selection of French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and ageing for 12 months. The wine was lightly fined and filtered prior to bottling in February 2022.

Producer

Producer Description

Discover 13^th Street Winery

Originally started by four amateur winemaker friends the winery was purchased in 2008 by the current owners: John & June Mann and Doug & Karen Whitty. Both families have deep roots in the Niagara community.

13th Street Winery evolved from a desire to create exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of Niagara, while also providing a place for guests to congregate and escape; to relax and discover; and to experience and learn. Owners, partners, and friends Doug and Karen Whitty and John and June Mann share a common love of wine, food, art, and a genuine heart for hospitality. It was this shared appreciation that brought them together and inspired the vision for 13th Street Winery.

Both families have established roots in Niagara and a strong commitment to the community. Doug Whitty is the third generation to be operating the family farm in St. Catharines, which was originally established in 1908. John Mann has been involved in farming for over 30 years, while also building a very successful automotive dealership network in St. Catharines and the surrounding areas.

Winemaker l Jean-Pierre Colas

Jean-Pierre Colas is one of the most talented French trained winemakers in the business. His winemaking philosophy is quite simple.

He believes that great wines come from the best grapes grown in the best vineyards, whereas winemaking techniques are only utilized to supplement and capture the very essence of the grapes’ provenance and character. With this philosophy in mind, JP excels at crafting high-quality red wines paramount to the Niagara peninsula: Gamay Noir, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Pinot Noir. Likewise, JP guides the production of exceptional white wines, including world class Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer.

In his home country of France, JP worked at the notable Chablis house, Domaine Laroche, where he produced Wine Spectator Magazine’s 1998 White Wine of the Year, an award he received for his Domaine Laroche Grand Cru Les Clos 1996. Also in 1998, Jean-Pierre was awarded the Best Wine in the Wine Enthusiast, Grand Cru Chablis Blanchots “Reserve de l’obedience” 1996 (99 pts).

Between France and his current residency at 13th Street, Jean-Pierre travelled and worked extensively around the world, including Carmen Vineyards in Chile, Bodegas Chandon in Argentina, and Oyster Bay Winery in New Zealand. He has studied and worked under a number of exceptional winemakers including Michel Givors in Morgon, Beaujolais and Gilbert Picq, and Michel Laroche in Chablis, Burgundy.

In 2018, Jean-Pierre received White Wine of the Year and a Gold Medal for Premier Cuvée 2012 at the 2018 Ontario Wine Awards.

Vineyards

13th Street is Sustainable Winemaking Ontario Certified Each vintage. 100% of the wines produced by 13th Street Winery are made from fruit sourced exclusively in the Niagara Peninsula with 85% or more coming from their own vineyards. Their very first vines were planted at the 13th Street Vineyard in 1976. In the years since, they’ve planted Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Pinot Gris and now have amassed more than 40 acres of estate vineyards in the VQA Creek Shores appellation of Niagara.

Customer Reviews