JAIMEE MOTLEY
Sebastopol
California
Jaimee’s winemaking career blossomed out of her work in the restaurant industry, a familiar world to her as she was “raised within the walls of my family’s restaurant”. Initially moving to San Francisco to complete graduate school for painting, she found herself immersed in food and wine once more, notably at Locanda and RN74 where a high level of wine knowledge was required of her. “It was during my time there, tasting and reading about wine, that my passion was officially ignited”.
Jaimee pursued internships across the world before finally landing an assistant winemaker position at Pax Cellars in Sebastopol which currently houses six individual projects including Jaimee’s own personal label. She works with three main grape varieties: Chenin Blanc, Mondeuse, and Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from sites throughout Mendocino, the Sierra Foothills and Santa Maria. Her wines always show wonderful, layered aromatics with great freshness and drinkability.
Chenin Blanc, Rosewood Vineyard
Vintage 2018
Style White
Region Mendocino, California
Varieties Chenin Blanc
ABV 12.5%
Soils Gravel, volcanic
Farming Organic
Winemaking For much of the 1980s, Chenin Blanc was the most widely-planted white variety in California, ceding eventually this title to Chardonnay. Whole cluster pressing and natural fermentation in stainless steel, followed by an equally spontaneous malolactic conversion. Ageing is rather long and takes place in used barrels before returning to stainless steel for a short period of time prior bottling.
Tasting Note This old vine Chenin Blanc is all things juicy stone fruit, beeswax, and flinty. Palate of yuzu, passion fruit and a nutty quality. A beautiful round white which ends on a mouthwateringly saline finish.
Mondeuse, Rorick Heritage Vineyard
Vintage 2019
Style Rose
Region Calaveras, California
Varieties Mondeuse
ABV
Soils Limestone, schist
Farming Organic
Winemaking Mondeuse from cuttings taken from a dormant vineyard in Santa Maria Valley and grafted on Graciano vines in 2016. Rorick Heritage Vineyard is gorgeous, set in the hills of Calaveras County at nearly 600m elevation. The grapes were foot crushed with a long press cycle to extract a little more flavour and texture. Fermented in stainless steel and aged on the lees in neutral oak.
Tasting Note This incredible rose is strikingly complex, combining gorgeous fruit and tension. It has lovely palate chock-full of red summer fruits underscored with savoury herbal aromatics. Textural and elegant on the attack, backed by firm fine tannins and a lengthy finish.
Mondeuse, Argillet Vineyard
Vintage 2018
Style Red
Region Santa Maria Valley, California
Varieties Mondeuse
ABV
Soils Limestone, schist
Farming Organic
Winemaking Fermented using whole cluster and with as gentle cap managment as possible. Aged on the lees in neutral French barrels for 11 months and a subsequent secondary ageing in bottle. Bottled unfiltered and unfined with minimal sulfur.
Tasting Note Mondeuse as we know it, but with slighlty riper notes, thanks to that Californian sunshine. Notes of strawberries, crushed violets, tart blackberries and pepper are balanced by ripping acidity and a finish that carries on for days. Punchy red fruits and complex aromas of lavender, sandalwood and cedar.