The Color Collector 2024 Willamette Valley Gamay Noir

This is another stunning vintage of Willamette Valley Gamay from Bethany Kimmel at Color Collector. It comes from the cool Van Duzer Corridor. Grapes are 50% hand-destemmed and cake layered with whole clusters. Fermentation happens via native yeasts in 2 ton vats with minimal extraction. It is basket pressed before 10 month élevage in large format neutral oak. Unfined and unfiltered, the wine is moved only by gravity. It shows vibrant fruit and some earthy spice, with great balance and a mineral depth that opens up over the course of a glass. An outstanding expression of Gamay that can stand side-by-side with any cru Beaujolais, this is one of my favorite summer wines to sip outside with friends. Pure joy! JD