Thirteenth Street is another house dedicated to the advancement in stature of the Gamay grape here in Ontario. With this 2007 version, they are taking another step closer to regaining the respectability of Gamay. The nose is gorgeous, with cherry and raspberry notes mixed in with hints of vanilla. Taste follows with more of that great cherry, a touch of oak, along with floral on the front palate and vanilla cream in the back … there's also a touch of tannin grit that'll smooth with time. Juicy and fruity, this wine shows real elegance and finesse. It shows what can be done with this grape when handled with respect: one year in a mix of French (20%) and American (80%) oak, of which 25% is new wood. In fairness to the purists, it's important to note that there's also 14% Pinot Noir added to soften the force of this big 2007 wine. They usually add about 7% Syrah to lift the wine, but this time, the big 2007 year caused them to go for a softening instead of a lift … and they've done a fantastic job with this one. Price: $18.00 – Rating: *****