Jolie-Lade Trousseau Noir Blend | 2023

Translating to “Pretty-Ugly” in French, the wines of Jolie-Lade are some of the most charming wines we’ve had from California. Producing multiple bottlings with less than 1,000 total cases, this is the prime definition of a micro-winery. Their winemaking hallmarks include whole-cluster fermentation, native yeasts, low amounts of sulfur, and anything but new barrel. This two-person operation, from Scott and Jenny Schultz, continues to impress Francophiles and proves that California is so much more than big box, neon Cabernet.

The 2023 Trousseau Noir blend features spicy Cabernet Pfeffer/Mourtaou (20%), Gamay (30%), and a dollop of Poulsard (8%). The sources are many sites up and down California’s North and Central Coast AVAs, including Siletto in San Benito, Las Cimas in Sonoma, and Luchsinger in Lake County. Fermented in tank and aged in neutral oak barrels, the final blend clocks in at 11.6% alcohol. On the palate it floats with crushed red berries, Concord grape, pink pepper, and crumbles of stone. It’s thin but ballsy and gives plenty of joy when consumed with a ten-minute chill in the fridge. Remember, it doesn’t have to be French to be Frenchie. ~Allegra A