Chateau Grand Traverse Old Mission Peninsula Gamay Noir Reserve, 2016

This Gamay Noir Reserve has been aged in barrel for 36 months but still has the fruity elegance of the varietal. Like the Limited, it is light in color and body but has considerably greater depth and complexity. The Reserrve is a bit higher in alcohol (13.9% vs 12.7%) but a tad lower in residual sugar (0.2 vs 0.5 brix) than the Limited. It also costs about twice as much.

Tart cherries, red plums and even more of the spice and black pepper that remind me of a fine Pinot Noir. A touch of dark chocolate on the finish. This is a very good wine, but, for the price differential, I will stick with the Gamay Noir Limited. I believe that both will age beautifully for 10 years or longer, although the Reserve may deliver a bit more pleasure at maturity.