2022 Joyce Gamay

Region: Arroyo Seco AVA < Monterey County < CA
Grapes: Gamay Noir
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming; super rocky soils of sand, granite, and shale loam; 100% whole cluster fermentation in neutral french oak puncheons; bottled unfined/unfiltered with minimal added SO2; 13% ABV; 460 cases
Winemaker: Russell Joyce

• Small family project between father/son duo Francis and Russell Joyce after dad pirated European cuttings in the 80's to plant on his property in Carmel Valley (Fun fact: Francis was a pro race car driver who initially came to Carmel for its proximity to the Laguna Seca racetrack)
• Russell grew up in the vineyard and took over over winemaking in his 20's
• Arroyo Seco AVA has the longest growing season in California thanks to strong daily winds that bring cool fog from the Monterey Bay and force the grapes to spend more time on the vine, getting ripe but not fat
• Extreme marine influence and late ripening shows up in the juicy red fruit tightly packed into an elegant, light-bodied package
• Strawberry jam, ripe raspberry, earth and a touch of licorice lifted by an energetic zippiness