CEV Gamay Noir 2008: Review

Colio Estate Vineyards

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

Lake Erie North Shore

Coliowinery.com

12.1% abv

$14.00 a bottle Canadian

100% Gamay Noir

Here are the tasting notes as stated on the bottle: “Scents of dark cherry, cedar spice and strawberry pie foretell the dark cherry, cranberry and pomegranate finish.”

Appearance: ruby body with an amber-ruby edge and a crystal rim. 

Aroma: I like the cedar spice, cherry and currant nose.  I also get a little earthy tone here as well.

Flavors: Wow, on my first few sips (after swirling the glass) the cedar comes through.  It is like a cigar box cedar with each sip and sniff. And, I have smelled a few cigar boxes in my day.  Dark berries on the taste with some nice green peppercorn spice along with that cedar note and rich soil for the earthy tone. 

Mouthfeel: It started off feeling a little thin (on the first few sips after opening the bottle) and when it opened up (a few swirls of the glass) it filled out the palate.  There is a blackberry bite that greets the palate.  The cedar, spice and dark berries linger and cling to the palate.  I can feel it coating my teeth and gums.  Dry finish, tannins semi-smooth, acidity under control. 

My Strength Rating: 7 – truly coats the palate.

To the Point: You can’t go wrong with this $14.00 bottle.  Nice medium-full feel without being overwhelming.   

The wine held up just fine when I paired it with some 9 year old white cheddar and then a whole grain cracker with horseradish cheese. 

This wine should go well with a fine cigar.  Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing with this wine. 

I just noticed that I did a review of this wine back in January of this year.  Click here to read that review. 

A Wine Review: Colio CEV Gamay Noir 2008

12.1% abv
$15.75 Canadian
Harrow, Ontario, Canada
Colio Estate Vineyards
Coliowinery.com
My Strength Rating: 4

Here is the description on the bottle, “Scents of dark cherry, cedar spice, and strawberry pie foretell the dark cherry, cranberry and pomegranate finish.”

The Gamay pours a pretty ruby color. This wine has one tasty bouquet. I get the dark cherry and spice. I don’t know about the strawberry pie but, this wine has a very tasty berry presence. The aroma is much better than I expected from the light appearance.

The taste does follow the nose. There is a very pleasing dark cherry and red berry flavor that dominates the profile. I also pick up that cedar spice on the taste and I notice it more on the nose now as the wine opens up. And, as a cigar guy I like that cedar note. The other spices on the palate remind me of a mixture of fine grind green, white, and pink peppercorns. I could agree with sweet cedar on the taste, but, to me it is lacking the woody character. That is why I am calling it the pepper mill mixture that I described. The acidity and tannins are low.

This wine would be nice with a salad dish, turkey or a portabella mushroom cap.

This is a must buy in my book.