2022 Jolie-Laide North Coast Syrah
The 2021 North Coast Syrah is a blend of single-vineyard Syrahs that captures the rugged beauty of California’s windswept, elevated terrain. Crafted by Scott and Jenny—renowned for their minimalist, natural winemaking—this wine is both highly sought-after and uniquely expressive. Floral, herbal, and spicy notes unfold gracefully, revealing layer upon layer of captivating flavor. It’s a soulful, elegant Syrah that truly sings of place.
Hand-harvested. Fermented with native yeasts. Whole cluster. Foot crushed. Aged in neutral oak and little to no sulfur added. Extremely limited!
- Tasting Notes blackberry, blueberry, plum, purple and blue flowers, black pepper, smoked meat
- Variety Syrah
- Region United States, California, Mendocino
- Volume 750 mL
- Alcohol Volume 13%
- Table Talk The name Jolie-Laide translates loosely to “Pretty-Ugly,” a French term of endearment to describe something that is unconventionally beautiful.
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.
Scott’s passion for wine was ignited when moved to Napa from Chicago in 2007. Having had extensive experience in the restaurant business, he switched gears upon his arrival in California to lead the wine program at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon. Working a harvest and as a cellar master are a few of Scott’s many achievements. He now shares a winemaking facility with Wind Gap, Ryme Cellars, and formerly Arnot-Roberts, all of whom share similar philosophies as Jolie-Laide in discovering unconventional beauty.
The Land
Situated 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean at 1,500 feet in Mendocino County’s Yorkville Highlands, Hawks Butte Vineyard is organically farmed and benefits from a cooler, ocean-influenced climate nearly identical in stature to France’s Northern Rhone. The south-facing vines sit on steep slopes and enjoy cool winds and rocky, heat-retentive soils, ideal for producing grapes with excellent acidity.
Three hours north of San Francisco and just east of the Pacific Ocean in northern Mendocino County lies the majestic and isolated Alder Springs Vineyard. This vineyard is regenerative, and organic conversion.
Since 1993, the property, led by proprietor Stuart Bewley, has grown a variety of grapes spread out between 31 blocks over 140 acres. At elevations between 1,700 to 2,700 feet the vineyard is known for its red Rhône varieties and regenerative farming (the entire property is in organic conversion). The individual microclimates of Alder Springs are what allows the Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grapes to shine both and collectively in the gravelly soils of decomposed sandstone and quartz.
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