Jolie-Laide "Mondeuse Noir" Sonoma County, California 2021

FROM JOLIE-LAIDE:

THE WINE: Expect tangy blackberry, sour cherry, and violets, backed by cracked pepper, bay leaf, and a streak of earthy minerality. The palate is lean and electric, with nervy acidity and fine tannins that keep things taut and food-friendly. Serve with a light chill and pair with grilled lamb, lentils, or mushroom-heavy dishes. This is one of those wines that feels both ancient and new—distinct, delicious, and totally Jolie-Laide.

THE PRODUCER: Jolie-Laide is a two-person operation based in a Sebastopol winery where winemaker Scott Schultz and his partner Jenny Schultz make only 500 cases of wine a year under their own label. The name Jolie-Laide translates loosely to “Pretty-Ugly,” a French term of endearment to describe something that is unconventionally beautiful. Scott & Jenny make some of the most unique and highly sought-after natural wines in California, using simple winemaking methods--whole cluster, foot crushed, indigenous yeasts, aged in neutral oak and little to no sulfur added.