quicksearch
Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Quails' Gate Cailleteau Gamay Nouveauxtext
88POINTS
16/20

Quails' Gate Cailleteau Gamay Nouveaux 2017

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe second release of the Quails' Gate gamay nouveau, or Cailleteau (pronounced kye-toe) after the French word for a baby quail, is as good as first and maybe, even better. There was never anything wrong with the concept of Beaujolais Nouveau - a chance to celebrate the vintage and the harvest by bottling wine made in one month from picking. The mistake was trying to make a local tradition a worldwide event. The juicy, delicious gamay made in the simplest of ways was never up to the challenge of travelling around the world in anything less than the Concorde. Its soft, peppery, fruity, branchy nuances and easy-sipping, slippery juicy nature demands it be consumed quickly and locally. At Quails’ Gate, the fruit was harvested on September 28, and as she did last year, winemaker Nikki Callaway has nailed the ‘Nouveau’ style. Whole clusters in a carbon dioxide rich environment has yielded a dark purple, youthful red with inviting flecks of primary, cherry/kirsch fruit with savoury, dried herbs, pepper and cinnamon. Nothing but fun. It’s winery only sales so find a friend in Kelowna to grab you a few bottles or join the Cellar Door Club and buy it at $17.99. Best with charcuterie, pâté or soft cheese throughout the holidays.Tasted: 15 November 2017Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$19.99750mlwinery direct, club members
Producer: Quails' Gate Vineyards Estate WineryDistributors: Appellation Wine Marketing
Family Wine Merchants
Grape: Gamay NoirCSPC: 33881UPC: 778856416244