SOLD OUT 2016 Bone-Jolly Gamay Noir (Barsotti Ranch, El Dorado County)
Edmunds St John harvested its 15th successive vintage of Gamay in 2016 (and vinified its 11th vintage of rosé from Gamay)! It’s gratifying to know that the wines we’ve offered from Gamay have provided substantial pleasure to plenty of folks over those years, enough to have drawn the attention of other growers and vintners, who’ve now undertaken their own plantings, and bottled some Gamay wines of their own. Maybe it’s time for a big party!
2016 was the fourth consecutive year of severe drought in California, though the winter of ‘15/’16 did provide sufficient rain to cause it to be described as only “somewhat below normal.” El Dorado has a pretty good long term plan for managing water-resources, and the vineyards that supply the grapes we use have continued to be healthy, for the most part, and to produce reasonably strong crops.
The season began early, again, because winter temps were generally above normal. There weren’t any prolonged periods of excessive heat, and the ripening period, which also began early, was relatively even, and moderately warm. Harvest was generally smooth and orderly. And the grapes gave us some delicious wine!
FRUIT SOURCE: Barsotti Vineyard at almost 3000 feet elevation, east and a bit north of Placerville. Vines planted in decomposed granite soils. 2016 was the tenth year of harvesting Gamay at Barsotti.
WINEMAKING NOTES: Picking Gamay at Barsotti in 2016 began on the 24th of August in the newer blocks, and was completed in the older blocks on the 31st of August. Average Brix levels were just slightly above 20 degrees. pHs were low, as usual. All the grapes were de-stemmed into open-top fermenters (half-ton bins), and the skins were manually punched down morning and evening. When the wine had fermented dry, it was pressed into stainless, where it proceeded through spontaneous malolactic fermentation.
Racking was done in mid-December, and again in the first week of February. Bottling was on February 14th.
WINEMAKER’S TASTING NOTES: The color in the ’16 is on the light side; it’s a pretty red, slightly tinged with purple. The nose is very fresh, and quite energetic; there’s plenty of fruit, some pepperiness, and a mineral streak. On the palate it’s racy and juicy, sporting a fine texture, and a finish that continues to gain length as the wine ages and integrates. High-stepping stuff! 12.4% alcohol.
TOTAL PRODUCTION: Just over 700 cases
PRICE: $22.00 SOLD OUT
RELEASE DATE: July, 2017