2017 Division - Gamay Noir "Cru" Methven Family Vineyards

2017 Division - Gamay Noir "Cru" Methven Family Vineyards (88 pts) @divisionwineco · 🙋‍♂️ Have you had a Gamay wine that wasn't from Beaujolais❓· ℹ️ This wine is 💯 Gamay Noir from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Oregon. All of the grapes are from the Methven vineyard. What is interesting about this wine is that it is made using 3 separate fermentation methods of equal parts. The 1st batch is 50% destemmed and made with a normal fermentation. The 2nd batch is 💯 whole cluster Carbonic Maceration in a closed top vat. The 3rd batch is 💯 whole cluster semi-carbonic in an open top vat. The wines were blended and aged in neutral French oak for 10 months· 👁 Medium- ruby color, cloudy (unfiltered)· 👃 Medium+ intensity on the nose. Aromas of twizzlers, redcurrant, ripe strawberry, stemmy, wet rock, unused charcoal, rose, celery, and pine nettles· 👄 The wine is dry, medium+ acidity, medium- fine tannins, medium alcohol, and medium body. A medium length finish of ripe strawberry, wet rock, and celery· 🔔 Someone tasting this blind commented "I didn't know that Dutraive was making wine in Oregon!". Later on, reverted to Pinot Noir for the final call, but sometimes that first whiff sums it all up. Definitely one of the top American Gamay Noir that I have tasted. There is a lot going on in the nose, but the palate is more classic Gamay in style. There is an old world style to this wine that will not be for everyone. Summing it up, this wine reaffirms to me that (northern) Oregon can diversify away from just Pinot Noir on the reds. The wine sells for $35 - only 75 cases produced.