There’s no doubt that a powerfully structured, built to last 50 years, bottle of red wine can be a profound experience, but sometimes we all crave a bit of joyful simplicity, and that is exactly what we have for you today: a voraciously vibrant, delightfully drinkable, keep-you-coming-back-for-more bottle of pure red wine joy. That the grape is Gamay isn’t all that surprising, but that it comes from Oregon’s Willamette Valley definitely is, and that juicy strawberry on the label tells you everything you need to know about the playfully delicious wine inside. Chill-able reds are a trendy category, and you could certainly throw this bottle in the chiller for a few minutes for even more refreshment, but however you serve it one bottle will never be enough!
Gamay is a cousin to Pinot Noir, and in Burgundy it plays a supporting role everywhere except in Beaujolais, where it is the star. And with the soaring rise in popularity for Cru Beaujolais it's not surprising that Gamay plantings are being rediscovered all over the world. But the grape is a bit finicky, and so far the only exciting versions outside of France tend to be from a few special parcels in California’s Sierra Nevada Foothills, along with vanishingly rare legacy plantings in Napa and Sonoma. But today’s discovery from the talented Jacob Martin Kinne has us thinking that Oregon’s Willamette Valley could soon be going toe to toe with the Gamays of California and Beaujolais too.
Jacob Martin, who goes by Jake, grew up in the vineyards. His father, Matt Kinne, is a pioneer of Oregon winemaking who started back in 1987 and established the now highly regarded Mckinlay Vineyards in 1990. Matt is known for his dogged classicism and old-school winemaking, taking an unabashedly “Burgundian” approach. Jake has a similar sensibility with his recently founded “Jacob Martin” label, though as the Gamay attests he isn’t afraid to show off his playful and experimental side too.
The Kinne family’s roots in Oregon go back to 1900, when European settlers were arriving in droves, and their long, generational knowledge of the geography and geology of the Willamette Valley help them craft exceptional wines that express the true terroir of this region. For his own label, Jake sources fruit from the estate vineyards as well as neighbors that he knows and trusts. Pinot Noir is still the focus, but as a Cru Beaujolais devotée he couldn’t resist making a little bit of Gamay when he was offered some fruit from a nearby vineyard.
While the Jacob Martin Gamay isn’t a fussy wine–no aging required, and decanting is unnecessary, just pop and pour–it still shows best in good Burgundy stems at a cool temperature of around 55 degrees, or if you like try it even cooler and throw it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before cracking it open. As the label suggests, perfectly ripe strawberries are the focal point of the aromas and palate, but those juicy berries are complemented by spiced cherries, blood orange zest, porcini, white pepper, and hints of wet earth. The almost dangerous drinkability of these bottles makes them an ideal companion for all sorts of dishes, from spicy Asian street food to tacos al pastor and anything you want to throw on the grill during a warm spring or summer afternoon. This is the perfect warm weather red, so stock up now so you have it around right up to the fall!
