Ontario Reviews

Marynissen 2001 Gamay Noir
Original Review ... You usually see Gamay in the Henry of Pelham style, which is low-to-no-oak and very fruity … this one is the exact opposite – a wine of structure and style perfect for ageing and enjoying later. Don’t get me wrong, I love both styles, but this one flies in the face of convention. Marynissen, a long time maker of high quality ageable wines, has once again crafted a wine of quality, ageability, and drinkability. The nose starts out with smoky oak then it opens up with smells of dark fleshy fruits like raspberries and plums, along with some currants that peak through. On the palate, you’ll taste strawberries and woodsy notes, along with other dark fruits hidden behind the wood. In the glass, you’ll notice harmless sediment forming and there’s a tannin grip that’s not usually found in Gamay. With wonderful depth and character and a potential for aging even further, this wine still drinks remarkably well right now. There’s a limited supply of this wine left, so best you scoot right out, or phone, to get your hands on a few bottles before it’s all gone.
2001
Red
Gamay Noir
0
$11.95
Niagara Peninsula
at the winery
http://www.marynissen.com
2012-08-01
(Re-Tasted August 2008) ... Way back when, in a galaxy far, far away Marynissen made a name for themselves making red wine: good, ageable red wines; though I may have been stretching it with this one. Seven years from vintage date I opened this bottle of Gamay Noir with a mix of trepidation and excitement. Gamay is the fruity grape of Beaujolais, and not anybody’s first choice for making a wine of any longevity. But combine a good growing season, with plenty of oak and know-how and you can make a wine of some depth and ageability. Popping the cork on this bottle produced a spray of flying wine diamonds, which had crystallized on the cork over the years. The initial smell and taste was harsh and sour, bitter even. After 45 minutes both the smell and taste had mellowed revealing cedar with cinnamon and dried fruit. An hour later we were back to bitter and sour – the wine had completely died. This one is drinkable, but only during a specific window of opportunity (between 45 minutes and an hour-and-a-half from opening) – otherwise its shot.

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