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Bachelder continues to explore what gamay can do across Niagara

Bachelder’s latest La Violette release features new single vineyard gamay noirs from Haynes Street and Wismer-Wingfield. These debut releases, unveiled on April 2, join a diverse collection of gamays offered by Thomas and Mary Bachelder, which are produced through partnerships with local growers in Ontario’s Niagara region.

This year’s online release, which marks 10 years since Bachelder started pursuing gamay in Niagara with the same passion as their pinot noirs and chardonnays, includes nine distinct expressions — eight single vineyards and one multi-regional blend — sourced from vineyards across Niagara-on-the-Lake, Jordan, Vineland and Beamsville.

2024 | A Classic Niagara Vintage

Warm and dry conditions in the fall helped save a vintage that was shaped by hot and rainy weather in the summer. According to Bachelder’s notes: “Gamay noir was a dream to harvest and vinify: dark colours, rich flavours, soft tannins, tight, expressive minerality.”

These are ripe red wines with substantial fruit flavours and no peppery or oaky accents. They aren’t the gamays of old from Niagara, but they’re also not crunchy styles reminiscent of Beaujolais. This is something else entirely.

All of the single vineyard wines were aged for 16 months in neutral oak barrels (228L,) some of which were a dozen years old, as well as in large-format neutral 500-litre oak puncheons.

In Memoriam: Vines in the Bator vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake were removed following the 2023 vintage, while the grapes used to produce the Bachelder’s Werner-York and G.H. Wiley gamay labels transitioned to different producers in 2024.

If you buy only one:

While I love the consistency of Bai Xu (I often worry that I overlook the sterling character of this wine when tasting through the portfolio) and the surprise factor of Willms in 2024, Haynes Street Gamay Noir 2024 is a real joy to discover and drink now. I also think its vivid fruit flavour and smooth texture will become more complex and rewarding with age.

The wines were tasted in the barrel cellar at Bachelder’s tasting room in Beamsville on April 2nd with Thomas Bachelder. Bachelder’s latest and existing releases are available direct, bachelderniagara.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake Single-Vineyards

Bachelder Kirby Gamay Noir Vieillies Vignes 2024
Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula $29

45 per cent whole cluster. 274 cases.

This is ripe and pretty on the nose. Initially, there are perfumed notes of dark fruit and flowers, followed by hints of coffee bean as the wine warms up. The palate centres on a fleshy core of cherry and red berry fruits, with stony notes on the finish. An impressive character that’s juicy and fresh but also serious — this is an age-worthy gamay that I would love to see in three to five years This has 12.5 per cent ABV. Drink now to 2032. (94+/100)

Bachelder L’il Kirby Gamay Noir Vieillies Vignes 2024
Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula $29

52 per cent whole cluster. 50 cases.

There is a dramatic shift in personality between this and the larger Kirby batch. It draws you in, while the other rushes to greet you. There’s less obvious ripe fruit on the nose, but the scent of dark fruit, floral and coffee bean strikes lingers. The palate is more refined and focused, too. It is bright and ripe with appealing fresh berry flavours and a refreshing stony finish. This has 12 per cent ABV. Drink now to 2030. (93/100)

Bachelder Willms Gamay Noir Vieillies Vignes 2024
Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula $29

55 per cent whole cluster. 1983 planting. 50 cases.

There’s a lot going on in this glass. It’s one of the more compelling Bachelder Willms gamays to date. Notes of citrus and rosehip tea, along with a mix of sweet and sour red fruits, shine as part of an over/under expression of ripeness. The palate has drive and gains ripeness and texture as it evolves from a fresh start to a juicy mid-palate and an integrated finish of fruit leather and Morello cherry with some tannic grip. All’s well that ends well. This has 12 per cent ABV. Drink now to 2030. (93/100)

Bachelder Bai Xu Gamay Noir Vieillies Vignes 2024
Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula $32

30 per cent whole cluster. 1981 planting. 80 cases.

Bai Xu has a lighter nose with notes of earth, cherry and plum, and a layered ripe fruit palate that’s balanced by good acidity and fine-grained tannins. There’s a pleasant mix of fresh and concentrated cherry and berry fruit flavours, with earth, spice and stony accents that carry through to the lingering finish. Drink now to 2034. (94/100)

West Niagara Single-Vineyards

Bachelder Haynes Street Gamay Noir 2024
Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula $29

From a vineyard owned by Joe Schenck and his family. 22 per cent whole cluster. 100 cases.

There’s a burst of pure raspberry and cherry fruit on the nose and palate that’s riper than juicy, making this a deliciously drinkable but not simple expression of gamay. The result is a delightful and enjoyable wine that showcases concentrated and lasting fruit flavours with fine tannins and a hint of black licorice and spice on the finish. This has 12.5 per cent ABV. Drink now to 2032. (94/100)

Bachelder Wismer-Wingfield West Gamay Noir 2024
Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula $29

Eight year old vines. 20 per cent whole cluster. 105 cases.

Wismer-Wingfield reveal a complex aroma suggesting rosehips, currants and savoury elements. The palate delivers a vibrant, focused and structured experience, a red wine brimming with energy that requires bottle aging to express itself. There are replays of the currants and berry fruit as part of an exciting style that is sure to develop. This has 12 per cent ABV. Drink 2027 to 2034. (93+/100)

Bachelder Wismer-Foxcroft Gamay Noir 2024
Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula $33

23 per cent whole cluster. 204 cases.

Produced since the 2016 vintage, Bachelder’s original Wismer single vineyard displays its characteristic meaty aroma with plenty of ripe berry fruit underneath. On the palate, this is richly concentrated with sweet ripe fruit flavours and meaty complexity. It’s deep and substantial, probably the most age-worthy of the current portfolio. Crowd-pleasing, too, thanks to that ripe fruit character. This has 13 per cent ABV. Drink now to 2036. (94/100)

Bachelder Mio Gamay Noir 2024
Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula $29

31 per cent whole cluster. 80 cases.

This really opens up to reveal a ripe and structured character with tannic grip and bright acidity. The style is generous and layered, offering a different vibe than the others — more pinot-like, perhaps? There’s a lot to appreciate thanks to its sappy fruit sweetness (cherry, blueberry) and balanced character, right down to its earthy and stony finish. Drink now to 2034. (92/100)

Les Villages Releases

Bachelder Les Villages Gamay Noir 2024
Niagara Peninsula $25.95

A blend of declassified barrels from the single vineyards.

Made in a bright, juicy and concentrated style, this offers lovely focus, freshness and intensity. A harmonious and approachable gamay, this makes the most of its alluring fruit, supple texture, gentle tannins and lingering finish. Great value. This has 12.5 per cent ABV. Drink now to 2030. (93/100)

Bachelder Les Villages Bench Chardonnay 2024
Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula $34.95

A blend of declassified barrels from the single vineyards, which will be released in November 2026.

A bright, fresh and focused expression of chardonnay, this offers an array of zesty citrus, pear and apple fruit with vanilla and saline notes and a stony finish. It’s impressive rich and refreshing style that’s ready to drink. This has 13.5 per cent ABV. Drink now to 2031. (93/100)

Bachelder Les Villages Bench Pinot Noir 2024
Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula $34.95

Declassified barrels from single vineyards, which will be released in November 2026.

Here is an exciting first look at what’s to come from the Bachelder 2024 single vineyard pinots. This multi-regional blend has an earthy, savoury and floral aroma, and a supple texture with surprising complexity, which enhances the core of red and black fruit flavours. There’s more depth than expected at this early stage. Drink now to 2029. (92/100)

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