Stolpman Vineyards Estate Grown Syrah 2017 | Seductive Dark-Berry Concentration
Stolpman Vineyards Estate Grown Syrah 2017 presents deep ruby with purple hues. Decadent aromas of blueberry, chicory, cinnamon, and nuanced leather. Energetic layers of red fruit and blackberry jam coat the palate, tinged with vanilla, black tea, and wild herbs. Beautifully integrated oak notes shape a lasting finish with just a hint of baking spice. This powerful Syrah shows off the silken dark-berry opulence of the vintage. While drinkable in its youth, but has the tannic backbone to be cellared for 4 to 5 years. Don’t miss this Stolpman Syrah from Winemaker Sashi Moorman paired with Vineyard Manager Ruben Solorzano.
Ruben Solorzano — Wine Enthusiast’s “grape whisperer”
Last August, Robert Parker’s longtime California reviewer, Jeb Dunnuck, called the Stolpman Vineyards Estate Grown Syrah 2017 “ripe, sexy and polished. Among “the best wines to date from Stolpman Vineyards, it’s no surprise, given the talent behind this bottle. The tag team of consulting winemaker Sashi Moorman (Ojai, Domaine de la Cote, and Evening Lands) and vineyard manager Ruben Solorzano — Wine Enthusiast’s “grape whisperer” — crafted a terrifically ripe, and beautifully compact expression of Stolpman Syrah. While the explosive fruit and seductive texture suggest a much higher price point.
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While Stolpman boasts the kind of concentration, precision, and liveliness that is winning fans the world over. And not only did they make waves in Wine & Spirits magazine’s list of top restaurant wine. But the calls from around the U.S. and overseas are getting more frequent and insistent. In fact, Pete had to duck out of our lunch for a few minutes to take a call from an importer determined to bring an allocation of Stolpman to Seoul, South Korea! In short, quality is higher than ever. So is demand.
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Ballard Canyon remains home to many of California’s best Rhône-styled wines, and Solorzano is the AVA’s hardest working man. He’s also a night owl. Hence taking advantage of Santa Barbara’s chilly nights to harvest nocturnally preserving the berries’ scintillating acid vibrancy. Equipped with a headlamp and a smile, he presides over dry-farmed, head-pruned vines. Furthermore, calls to mind the northern Rhône slopes of Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage.
Winemaker Sashi Moorman | Stolpman Syrah
Solorzano and Moorman played the 2016 vintage in Ballard Canyon perfectly. Any California winemaker will tell you that the defining event of the vintage was a severe heat spike in late September. Those who harvested after had to contend with accumulated sugars and lower acids. Hence, those who picked before were treated to BB-sized berries of exquisite brightness and a suave density guaranteeing excellent cellaring potential. Most noteworthy, Solorzano and Moorman were among the early birds. Hence, the Stolpman Vineyards Estate Grown Syrah 2016 is a powerful yet nuanced expression of the Central Coast; one that can be enjoyed now or for years to come.
