Westbrook Wine Farm

The Valdiguié grape, also known as Napa Gamay, but not to be confused with Gamay Noir a Jus Blanc as previously thought, is more commonly planted today in California than in its native southern France. Most of what producers here thought to be the Gamay Noir of Beaujolais turned out to be Valdiguié. Federal labeling laws with deadlines in 2007 for the phasing out of the erroneous “Napa Gamay” moniker will clarify things for consumers, if not make the wine easier to ask for.

With a high yield, reliable ripening, light fruit and brisk acidity, this black grape is easy to love, especially when transformed by carbonic maceration into a tutti-frutti, imminently gluggable Beaujolais Nouveau style wine.

This bright straw yellow wine is at first whiff like a California Chardonnay – buttery and very slightly oaky with apple and pear notes. However, it quickly begins to show its unique panoply of characteristics – banana, dried leaf, musk, lanolin, spearmint, and mango crème brulee aromas, and a clean, fresh peachy/lemony/buttery palate with a generous sweet and then very tart peachy finish. Kudos to Ray and Tammy Krause, owners of this off the beaten path winery, for their bravery in releasing this tough to market blend!

Reviewed December 14, 2006 by Catherine Fallis.