Tasting Note: This is the first bottling of CSV Gamay, an elevation of status and price reflecting how well this grape is growing into Niagara’s wine culture as something more than a fresh and fruity charmer. It is a seriously good, structured and sophisticated red. The nose is generous yet compact and complex with equal parts berry/cherry/pomegranate fruit, pepper, fine herbs, some charcuterie and spice. It is medium bodied, firm, streamlined and even. Excellent to outstanding length. One of the most ambitious and successful gamays to date in Niagara.

Background. Cave Spring has made gamay for several years, but not as a core variety – with the CSV club reserved for riesling, chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet franc. But gamay is growing in the same clay loam, limestone- based Cave Spring Vineyard (CSV) soils and with more detailed winemaking has delivered something special. The winemaking reflects the upgrade as well, with 75% de-stemmed fruit and 25% whole-cluster fruit trodden by foot. It underwent five-week open-vat, indigenous yeast maceration and fermentation, with gravity flow to press. It was barrel aged 20 months, 80% in neutral and 20% 2nd–4th fill French oak; barrel formats were 90% 225L and 10% 500L. There was minimal sulphur addition and no filtration.