Donnachadh Estate Gamay Noir 2024

This Estate Gamay Noir is pale ruby in color and leads with aromas of wild strawberry, cassis, candied black cherry, blackberry, cranberry and white pepper, complemented by hints of orange peel, dried citrus and earthy pu-erh tea. Juicy, fresh and light-bodied in the mouth, bright and punchy, with lovely, forward red-toned fruit and vibrant, salivating acids that pull it all together. Earthy, chalky, peppery and powerfully structured. Succulent fruits and smooth tannins on the flavorful, spice-laced finish. A lean, tense, herbaceous wine with ample focus and drive.

100% Gamay Noir sourced entirely from the family owned and organically farmed Donnachadh estate in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County. Grapes were hand picked at a ripeness chosen to provide bright acidity and intense fruit flavors. At the winery, fruit was partially destemmed and crushed while still cool, then naturally fermented with daily hand punchdowns to extract rich color and smooth tannins. For this vintage, fermentation included about 15% whole grape clusters for extra structure. The wine was aged for 14 months in neutral French oak barrels.

Drew and Laurie Duncan searched almost a decade for the perfect cool climate site to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir before finally discovering Donnachadh Vineyard. Organically farmed in the heart of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, the property was planted to vine by the Duncans in 2013. Santa Barbara Winemaker Ernst Storm is at the healm for winemaking. Having hailed from the Western Cape of South Africa, his experience making balanced wines from cool climate grapes has served him well in the Sta. Rita Hills. Ernst believes that the diverse soils and microclimates within Santa Barbara County make it a region with endless potential.

Pronounced "DON-nuh-kuh," Donnachadh is a 4th century Gaelic name ancestral to the modern Scottish surname, Duncan. The label art by Chris Buzelli shows a sea serpent from Scottish legend surrounded by mist and blowing fog to represent the mystical, rugged setting and marine influence of the vineyard site in the Sta. Rita Hills.