Jolie-Laide Gamay Sonoma County 2024

Jolie-Laide is on all of the cool wine kids’ lists – and you can count us just as enamored. Their counter-culture, small-case production has inspired some of the most hardcore and hip fans in the wine world – and for under $20, their newest Gamay is all the evidence you need to know why.

Jolie-Laide is a tiny, hands-on winemaking project built around a “less is more” philosophy and earning a spot as one of California’s most on-the-rise, cult-y producers. Founder and somm-turned-winemaker Scott Schultz has said his vision is to make pretty wines from ugly vines, the very name “Jolie-Laide” loosely translating to “pretty-ugly.” This means: an emphasis on minimal-intervention practices, rare grape varieties, and terroir-driven character via foot crushing, whole cluster-fermentation, native yeasts, and neutral oak or inert vessel aging to preserve purity.

They source fruit from small, sustainable, often organically farmed vineyards across Northern California – typically taking under-appreciated or less common varieties – and treat each vintage and each wine almost as its own unique piece of art, allowing the unique traits of the environment and grapes to speak for themselves. The result is wines known for freshness, clarity, and a kind of honest expressiveness – particularly in this 2024 Gamay from Sonoma County.

"These remain some of the most unique, compelling wines being made in Sonoma today. I can't recommend them highly enough." - Antonio Galloni

Jolie-Laide makes just about 500 cases total each year – so every single wine they make is limited – this Gamay Noir included. We did everything possible to get as much as we could, but at our exclusively low price – we expect every bottle to disappear imminently, so get yourself as much as you can possibly manage while you can! This new release is a certified beaut – unendingly pretty and gorgeously floral, with an alluring rose petal note that works its way into crushed raspberry aromatics. White sage, bay laurel, summer strawberries, and Bing cherries come to life in the mouth, grounded by sensations of graphite and exotic incense. Gentle and elegant throughout, with a final hug on the finish that brings out a mineral, rocky character that lingers with a bit of pink peppercorn spice – this is simply magnetic.

The fruit hails from two high-elevation sites in the Sonoma AVA – an iron-rich haven of volcanic soil in Fountaingrove, and Las Cimas vineyard situated on the county’s northern edge. Whole clusters undergo carbonic maceration for several days before old-school foot stomping and whole-cluster fermentation. A brief six months in neutral barrels grants texture yet preserves freshness and varietal character, and a low ABV of just 12% has this singing with a vibrancy and freshness that begs for consumption early and often. It’s a dreamy sip that is sure to add any drinker to the scores of hardcore Jolie-Laide fan clubs. Count us as lifetime members, too! Go grab as much of this as you can.

PAIRING IDEAS: Get yourself a cheese board stacked with aged Gouda, raspberry jam-covered brie, and sharp cheddar cheese – plus all your favorite fixin’s – for a surefire win of a pairing!