by Jade Palmer - Wine Manager at Hop City Krog
This week, we’re ecstatic to feature wines from one of our favorite producers - Andre Mack and Maison Noir wines. Andre Mack left his career in investment banking to pursue his passion for wine, working his way up the restaurant ranks and gaining recognition while doing so. His restaurant resume is impressive, which includes places like The French Laundry and Per Se. In 2007, he founded Maison Noir Wines to fulfill his dream of being a winemaker. Today, Maison Noir is a well-known Oregon garagiste wine label with fun, tongue-in-cheek labels and a t-shirt line to boot. Also, no big deal, but Andre Mack also hosts the World of Wine with Andre Mack video series on Bon Appetit. His videos are definitely worth a watch - he gets into some really interesting wine topics.
We’ve just received the newest Maison Noir wines and we can’t wait to share them with y’all! Even better, we’re pumped to feature Maison Noir at this month’s wine tastings, which take place Wednesday, February 28 at West End and Thursday, February 29 at Fayetteville. Make sure to get your tickets!
Maison Noir “New Noir” - $27.99
Mack calls this wine a “Northwest Edelzwicker” of sorts - a blend of Alsatian varieties grown in Oregon. It is deep breath - 50% Gewurztraminer, 28% Pinot Gris, 12% Riesling, 5% Muscat, and 5% Pinot Blanc. Phew! What that translates to is a juicy, uber-floral, stone-fruity, lil salty rosé-adjacent banger. If there is a wine that tasted like spring, this would be the one! Grab this one on March 19th, the first day of spring!
Maison Noir “Gamma Ray” - $27.99
This wine is a fun take on a Bourgogne Passetoutgrains - the traditional blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay from Burgundy. It’s 50/50 Pinot Noir and Gamay from the Willamette Valley that beautifully showcases the terroir of the region. Crunchy red fruit all dayyyy with hints of Chinese five spice and new leather that complement the tannic structure of the wine. Pair this with the first time you enjoy being outside without it being below 40ºF :)
Maison Noir “Bastardo Jackson” - $27.99
Bastardo is another name for the grape Trousseau, a red grape indigenous to the Jura region in France. Again, Mack puts his Oregogne spin on a French classic, which is so refreshing to see. This wine is an ideal balance between fruit and savory notes; think strawberry rhubarb pie, beets, and expressed orange oil. Bastardo Jackson takes “chillable red” wines to another level with its depth of flavor. Enjoy this wine with a resplendent charcuterie spread - funky cheeses, olives, Marcona almonds, baguette slices - the whole shebang.
