I tasted the Sheldrake Point Vineyards Gamay Noir 2018 a few weeks ago. Now, I have long been a Gamay Noir fan for a long time. And the Sheldrake has always been one of my favorites regardless of region.
For those of you unfamiliar with Sheldrake, Sheldrake Point Winery is named for the prominent point of land on which it sits, located on the western shore of Cayuga Lake. Operated as an orchard and dairy farm from 1850 to the mid-1980s, the 155-acre lakeshore farm lay fallow until 1997 when a small group of wine enthusiasts organized the purchase of the land and founded the winery. Today, Sheldrake Point Winery continues the agricultural tradition with 60 acres of vineyard planted to 10 vitis vinifera varieties, which are used to make approximately 8,500 cases of estate grown, produced, and bottled table and ice wines.
Dave Breeden has been the winemaker at Sheldrake Point since 2002. He has not one, but two degrees in chemistry, and one in philosophy. He's a formidable figure in the Finger Lakes wine scene, despite his unassuming demeanor. He's a terrific winemaker!
The Sheldrake Point Gamay Noir 2018 got a three day cold soak and then fermented on the skins 8 days. They brought in 10.4 tons on October 25, 2018. The wine went through a malolactic fermentation. Pumpovers during fermentation 1-2x per day, .5 hours each time; wine rested in barrel for ~5 months. The wine was also aged in oak...50% 4th use or older French barrels, 7% 3rd use French barrels, 43% 3rd use or newer large format (400 or 500L) French barrels. The idea was that the wine would soften but have a fruit forward attack.
The result is a wine that leads with strawberries and fresh cherries right out of the glass. A big attack of fresh fruit. From there some lovely notes of plum and vanilla come forward with nice spice and minerality. The resultng finish leaves the flavors of cherry and strawberry lingering on the palate for a very very long time, and a nice easy finish. Mouth watering and delicious!
A fantastic wine. A very, very good Gamay Noir! Excellent!
here's the first piece I ever wrote about Sheldrake Point....
http://eastcoastwineries.blogspot.com/2010/10/sheldrake-point-vineyard-gamy-and-cab.html