Jolie-Laide "Death" North Coast Syrah 2023

Deep and beautifully perfumed, the 2023 Jolie-Laide North Coast Syrah opens with captivating aromas of smoked meat, beef jerky, olive, violet and cracked black pepper. The palate is svelte and impeccably balanced, layering dark plum and other dark fruits with savory roasted earth and a subtle charred quality. Elegant and precise with a cool-climate sensibility, this is quintessential Syrah expressed through a refined and understated California lens.

Sourced from a blend of high-elevation, organically farmed vineyards across the North Coast, including Hawks Butte in the Yorkville Highlands and Halcon Vineyard in Mendocino County, this wine reflects the cool-climate character of its sites and the influence of the Northern Rhône. The grapes were 100% whole-cluster fermented, foot-trodden and allowed to ferment with ambient yeasts in open-top tanks before aging for 10 months in neutral French oak barriques. Minimal intervention allows the fruit, savory character and sense of place to take center stage.

Founded in 2010 by Scott and Jenny Schultz, Jolie-Laide is a boutique Sonoma County winery dedicated to unconventional beauty and California’s lesser-known grape varieties. Named for the French expression meaning “pretty-ugly,” the winery embraces low-intervention winemaking and thoughtful sourcing from independent growers. Winemaker Scott Schultz takes an intuitive approach, allowing each vintage to express its own character while crafting distinctive wines that celebrate the individuality of their grapes and vineyards. The North Coast Syrah remains one of the winery’s signature bottlings and a standout expression of California Syrah.