Doug Tunnell takes Gamay Noir seriously with Evening Lands Vineyards as the only real competition. Medium crimson-colored, the 2008 Gamay Noir offers up an alluring bouquet of earth notes, spice box, and assorted red fruits. This is followed by a medium-bodied, savory, concentrated wine with layers of fruit, vibrant acidity, and outstanding depth and length. It has the fruit, acidity, and overall balance to evolve (and we know that the finest Cru Beaujolais can improve) so it might prove interesting to cellar a few bottles and see what happens. Congratulations to Doug Tunnell for an extraordinary collection of wines. Doug Tunnell is completing his 20th year farming in Willamette Valley. His biodynamically certified vineyards have acquired some maturity, and it would appear that a combination of experience, impeccable farming, and a great vintage have resulted in the best wines of his career in the 2008 vintage,.with two of them (the Chardonnay and Gamay Noir) offering spectacular value. www.brickhousewines.com