RKS 2025 Wine: Stoney Ridge Estate Winery 2022 Small Lot Gamay Noir

Perhaps there is some comfort looking at this bottle of 2022 Small Lot Gamay Noir from Ontario’s Stoney Ridge. Those grapes saw some summer sun and warmth “cold comfort” to Torontonians facing minus twenty temperatures tonight. I prepared a salad tonight and given the deep freeze I had very little enjoyment of it preferring the warmth of pasta.

Gamay Grapes were mechanically harvested from old vines (1998 planting) at the Bucknall Vineyard in the Vinemount Ridge sub-appellation. Harvest came early with the grapes picked on September 20th 2022 at an average 22.5° brix. After fermentation in a single small stainless-steel vat the wine was racked and put into 100% 1-year old American Oak barrels where 80% malolactic fermentation was allowed to occur. After 9 months in barrel the final blend was produced and bottled September 27th 2023.Only 273 cases produced.

Ontario can vint decent Gamay Noir and at times one might ask could it rank with Cabernet Franc as Ontario’s signature grape?

Aroma: Encased in a smoky frame with a plenitude of blackberry, red currant, black cherry and lesser notes of raspberry.

Palate: Surprisingly tannic for a Gamay where one expects a lighter, fruity and easy drinking wine but why be pinned down by stereotypes. Creativity has little patience for typecasting. The tannins divert the senses from the fruit and fruit there is lighthearted cherry, currants and blackberry. Is this a Barolo!

Personality: Think of me as being on the unique side. I rather plead with you to set me aside until 2026 where I may just surprise you and I may cruise very nicely into 2030. Waiting for wine in the bottle can be a fool’s game but give me a break! With risk there can be reward but there could be disaster.

Food Match: Ontario venison but not from Marineland Niagara.

Cellarbility: Hold until 2030 but do not open until 2026.

Price: $23 CDN.

RKS 2025 Wine Rating: 88/100. Wine Align 87.

(Stoney Ridge Estate Winery 2022 Small Lot Gamay Noir Bucknall Vineyard, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Stoney Ridge Estate Winery, Vineland, Ontario, 750 mL, 12.5%).