There are few young winemakers in the business with more raw talent than Sam Smith. His wines have that magical balance of edgy, electric vibrancy, elegant refinement, and quiet repose all at the same time. They show incredible purity and a vivid sense of place. Made using very non-interventionist techniques, they remain polished and sophisticated nonetheless. The Baytree Lane Gamay is a new wine in his lineup, and it is immediately one of my favorites. Coming from a small vineyard above the town of Sonoma, this Gamay Noir is grown on red volcanic soils. Pouring it for our sales staff last week garnered the same reaction time and time again: “Ooohhh, now that’s just delicious!” The wine has the perfect combination of upfront, bright red fruit - think ripe raspberry, pomegranate, and alpine strawberry, along with baking spices, a hint of black pepper, dried rose petal, hot volcanic stone, and bramble leaf. Elegant, light-medium-bodied, and translucent in the glass, yet packed with flavor, it has a refined, silky texture on the palate. Just an eminently quaffable wine. I absolutely loved it. The value here is also stunning given the quality in the bottle.

We don't get a lot of Gamay Noir but, when we get ones like this, it's time to jump up and take notice. I find this type of wine to be absolutely perfect when I need something a little lighter than Pinot Noir. Particularly to match with certain food for certain friends who do not drink white wine. You know who you are. This is one pretty baby that smells floral and crunchy. Raspberry flavors dominate with bright minerals and crunchy, crunchy cherry flavors. Jolly Rancher cherry flavors! The tiniest bit of spice on the upper palate brings joy and the finish is pure and lingering. I don't know why but, fish and chips came to mind when I tasted this.

This wine has a beautiful, intriguing nose of raspberry and cherry, with subtle aromas of wet stone. On the palate, it balances juicy red fruit flavors with bracing acidity. Overall, this is a wine of incredible freshness and precision that's a great call when it's too hot for heavier reds, and pairs well with chicken or pork hot off the grill!