2016 Lo-fi Gamay Noir

Grapes: 80 Gamay, 20 Pinot Noir
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming; shaly loam soils; Rancho Real Gamay: whole cluster semi-carbonic, pressed after 8 days; Clos Mullet: whole berry ferment, pressed after 10 days; blended then 6 months in used barrel; bottled unfined/unfiltered with 20 ppm added SO2
Winemaker: Mike Roth

You might remember the Lo-fi label – we featured their unsulfured Cab Franc last fall. And after another visit to their Buellton production facility this summer, where we tasted the new lineup, we are crushing hard on pretty much every wine Mike Roth and his college friend Craig Winchester made this vintage. Like this deliciously weird Pinot Noir and Gamay blend, made in the French style of Passe-tout-grains, a name that roughly translates to “every grape goes,” meaning the wine is made with unsorted berries. So essentially the whole hog concept of wine – no waste.  Love that. For the first time, the Lo-fi guys have their own estate fruit, from a small vineyard in Mike’s front yard that they call “Clos Mullet”. Yes, a vineyard named after the awesome 80’s haircut – that’s how they roll. Bright and juicy, with great acidity and a hit of amaro-like bitterness (think radicchio and cocoa nibs) from the carbonic fermentation that softens after a few sips, after your tongue is coated with this beguiling elixir.