Lo-Fi - 'Clos Mullet Estate' - Gamay - Los Alamos, Santa Barbara County, CA - 2023

Notes from the Winery/Importer

Clos Mullet Vineyard is located in Los Alamos, Santa Barbara County, California (34044’39”N 120016’12”W). It was planted in 2014 by the Lo-Fi team. Chamise shaly loam series consist of well drained soils that developed over gravelly beds of silt and clay and sandy water-deposited materials. Chamise soils normally contain a large number of water rounded fragments of Monterey shale. Permeability is moderately slow. The cuttings were gathered from neighboring vineyards and planted own rooted. Hand harvested and organically grown; 100% de-stemmed, pumped-over once daily in an open top tank. Primary and secondary fermentation via native yeasts and bacteria. No sulfur used at harvest. The wine was fermented until dry then pressed to tank, settled, then racked to barrel the following day. Racked once prior to blending. Total of 25 ppm so2 added without filtration in keeping with our minimalist (lo-fi) philosophy. ***Sadly, This is the final vintage of Clos Mullet Gamay. Although it makes an amazing wine, the vines were just not thriving. We decided to rip them out and replace it with Gringet, a rare and ancient white grape variety primarily grown in the Savoie region of France, particularly in the area of Haute-Savoie. It is a unique grape with a fascinating history and it is estimated that there are only about 50 to 60 hectares (approximately 125 to 150 acres) of Gringet planted worldwide, the majority of that of course in France. We are very excited to be bringing this rare grape to the Central Coast. Keep your eyes out for it in the coming vintages (2026?).

• Blend: 100% Gamay
• Vineyard: Clos Mullet
• Clone:
• Soil Series: Chamise Shaly Loam
• Appellation: Santa Barbara County, Los Alamos
• Harvest date: 9/24/2023
• Brix at harvest:
• Fermentation:100% de-stemmed. natural primary and secondary fermentation; pressed after 14 days.
• Barrels: Neutral French oak demi-muid 600L and Neutral 228L Barrels
• Aging: 10 months in barrel
• Production: 134 Cases.

  Notes on the Producer

  Lo-Fi’s ethos is to embrace the unpredictable and uncontrollable factors in vintage and vinification, much like an audiophiles derive pleasure from the clicks, pops, and hiss of their favorite vinyl records. The duo behind Lo-Fi, Mike Roth and Craig Winchester, has built vineyard connections and winemaking chops that put them in a position to deftly guide the fermentation process of these vibrant wines without manipulations or additions. Lo-Fi is marked by easy drinking, low alcohol, neutral barrel—if any—oak, native yeasts, little or no sulfur or other interventions that hide the fruit or the vintage that spawned it. Nothing added and nothing taken away.

Lo-Fi wines began quietly at the time Mike Roth was working at Martian Ranch and Vineyard in Santa Barbara County. Roth also had winemaking jobs at Grigich Hills and Saddelback. But one harvest at Martian offered Roth the opportunity to work with some left over fruit. He wasn’t planning anything serious or long-term, just a glou-glou wine for himself and friends. The project continued with the partnership of Craig Winchester (assistant winemaker at Martian Ranch then) and a few harvests went by with the two making more and more to the point that they had a small inventory of wines. Things were ramping up and the wines were getting really good.
Mike Roth launched Lo-Fi Wines in 2014 and continued production while working as winemaker with Coquelicot Estate whose wines shared the Lo-Fi spirit. Mike Roth and Craig Winchester continue Lo-Fi Wines as a high-priority passion project and business while maintaining their winemaking “day jobs.” In fact, Roth’s relationship with Coquelicot continues today with the Coquelicot vineyards as the majority source of Lo-Fi’s fruit. Today, the wines of Lo-Fi are vibrant and fun. They are leading the way for a new generation of California winemakers that aren’t seeking points or collectors, but getting back to the roots of what make wine exciting and enjoyable.

• T. Edwards Wine