2022 MNW "Free Gamay, Willamette Valley, Dundee, Oregon

The 2022 Maison Noir "Free Gamay" is an electric, light-to-medium-bodied red wine that showcases a beautiful balance between Old World structure and New World fruit vibrancy. On the nose, it bursts with lively, forward aromas of ripe strawberry, bright red cherry, and cranberry, coupled with faint hints of candied fruit and dried herbs. The palate is incredibly approachable and crisp, featuring spirited acidity and very low, soft tannins that make it exceptionally refreshing. It masterfully counterbalances its juicy fruit-forward notes with a subtle, savory earthiness and a dash of spice that is highly characteristic of its Willamette Valley origin. This highly versatile, quaffable wine is excellent when served slightly chilled, pairing beautifully with charcuterie, roasted poultry, or spontaneous gatherings.

This wine is produced by André Hueston Mack, a legendary figure in modern American wine culture who founded Maison Noir Wines (originally Mouton Noir) in 2007. Mack left a successful finance career to become an award-winning sommelier, famously serving as the Head Sommelier at Thomas Keller's iconic restaurants, The French Laundry and Per Se. As a prominent Black winemaker and sommelier in a historically white-dominated industry, Mack holds an incredibly significant place in American wine history. Instead of following traditional, exclusionary wine tropes, he revolutionized the field by blending wine lifestyle with street culture, punk, hip-hop, and skateboard subcultures through eye-catching, provocative labels. Rather than owning vineyards, he operates as a négociant, leasing land and sourcing high-quality grapes across Oregon's prestigious Willamette Valley. His "Free Gamay" is a historic nod to the days when the Gamay grape was a reliable Burgundian workhorse, and his work has been instrumental in making premium, terroir-driven American wines accessible and deeply engaging to a younger, more diverse generation of drinkers.