2011 Stolpman Syrah Estate
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Tasting notes
(includes 3% grenache, 2% roussanne and 1% viognier): Fresh dark red-ruby. Slightly reduced aromas of black raspberry, smoky minerals, plum sauce and smoked meat, plus a hint of purple fruits. Then densely packed, vibrant and savory, with superb energy and acid cut to the sweet dark fruit, flint, violet, pepper and fresh herb flavors. A very juicy, penetrating style of syrah, and very 2011 in character, not to mention Cote-Rotie-like. Finishes with verve and aromatic persistence. Ridiculously underpriced. (ST)
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The largest production wine of the estate, with close to 5,000 cases produced, the 2011 Syrah Estate is a beauty! Exhibiting pretty raspberry, flowers, violets, herbes de Provence and licorice, this medium-bodied, finesse oriented Syrah has good to moderate concentration and silky tannin, suggesting it's best consumed over the coming handful of years. Drink now-2016. Under the guidance of Sashi Moorman (of Sandhi Wines and the winemaker here since 2001), this estate has slowly moved toward earlier picking and slightly more fresh, elegant wines. Tel. (805) 688-0400; www.stolpmanvineyards.com
Freshly cut flowers, dark red cherries, mint, licorice and violets are alive in the glass in Stolpman's 2011 Syrah Estate. One of the most refined, polished wines I have ever tasted from Stolpman, the 2011 Syrah impresses for its exceptional balance, length and vibrancy. This is a fabulous showing. The low 2011 yields and tiny berries resulted in a wine endowed with fabulous purity.