Last year, I really enjoyed Doug Tunnell's 2007 Gamay Noir, and ended up buying half a case of this Biodynamic certified wine. Therefore, it was with much anticipation that I tried the Brick House 2008 Gamay Noir Ribbon Ridge (13.5%), a natural wine that while different in some ways from the '07, it is one I will definitely stock up on.

The '08 Brick House Gamay Noir ($24) was a clear, garnet red in the glass, offering perfumed notes of strawberry and cherry fruit, dusty spice, and earth. In the mouth, this Oregon gamay delivered a nice silky texture, with black cherry fruit a bit fleeting at first, while revealing more in the finish along with a pleasing mineral earthiness.

The finish was what stood out most in this wine, one that continued to dance across my palate revealing a variety of flavors and impressions. Now that's what I seek in a wine that intrigues, one that evolves in the glass and on the palate, prompting one to take pause, sniff, taste, and then repeating the process over again throughout the meal.

Speaking of which, we paired the Brick House 2008 Gamay Noir Ribbon Ridge with pasta bolognese on the first night and a roasted pork shoulder that had been slow cooked for hours in a single pot with a tomato sauce and beans. I really liked how this wine evolved over the two nights, and especially enjoyed its complement to our food.

Related Links
2007 Brick House Gamay Noir Review
Brick House Gamay Noir Page