2016 Redford-Wetle Farm Gamay Noir

Winery Name: Grochau Cellars : The 2016 Gamay Noir was sourced from the Owner/Winemaker: John Grochau certified organic Redford-Wetle Farm. Year Founded: 2002 : The 2016 growing season started early, summer Location: in the Eola-Amity Hills above Amity, was warm with more days of extreme heat than 2015. Late Oregon (Willamette Valley) August was thankfully a bit cooler, allowing us to pick at a About: John Grochau was first introduced to and the fairly easy pace. Gamay was picked on September 23rd, landscape in his early 20’s, while racing after all the was in the winery. bicycles for a French team in the . For several Winemaking: The were sorted and placed in the years, he raced through some of France’s most revered fermenter with 33% whole clusters. The cold soak lasted winemaking regions including , and approximately five days before fermentation started the across the Loire Valley. When he returned to his without inoculation. Fermentation lasted approximately 15 hometown of Portland, Oregon, he went to work in the days. The wine was pressed and restaurant business and quickly discovered an even greater barreled in 4-8 year old barrels, appreciation for wine. That passion led him to Brick House and aged 15 months sur lees, Vineyards, where he worked alongside winemaker Doug never or stirring. Tunnel for four years. With Grochau’s restaurant Bottling: The wine was bottled in experience, there was a natural progression as a February 2018. 100 cases were winemaker to craft food-friendly that enhance a produced. meal. Grochau strives to make wines that are balanced, textured and expressive of place. Inspired by the diversity of the Willamette Valley’s soils and microclimates, Grochau sources fruit from seven organic and sustainably- farmed vineyards. Grapes are hand-harvested and wines undergo a slow, natural fermentation. Working with varieties with a legacy in the Willamette Valley – namely Pinot Noir and – Grochau also seeks to showcase the potential of emerging varieties like and Gamay.

GC WINE COMPANY LLC GrochauCellars.com (503) 522-2455 [email protected]