Current Release
2022 Syrah, Stolpman 750ML
Stolpman is one of the great sites in all of Santa Barbara County. Located on rolling hills of clay loam overlaying limestone in the heart of Ballard Canyon, Stolpman is a Rhone variety wonderland. Over the years, we have purchased Syrah here from at least five distinctive blocks, from 20-year-old high density blocks to 30-year-old original plantings. The grapes have formed the backbone of our MJM. In 2022, however, we found that the extreme quality and singularity of the wines required us to make this a single vineyard wine.
In 2022, we picked the south and west facing high-density grapes before the heatwave, whereas the older vines required us to wait another 3 to 4 weeks to ripen, finally concluding October 7 at good sugar and ripeness levels. The wine was completely destemmed and aged in 228L barriques and 400L French oak barrels (18% new) before being selected for this cuvee. We blended the selected barrels after 9 months, then returned them to barrel for another 9 months before bottling. We love the intense, yet restrained power of this wine, born of exquisite farming from these venerable, stately vines, lovingly tended over a long, slow growing season.
The critics agree. Wine Advocate’s Matthew Luczy gave this wine 95 points saying “the texture is dramatically intense and rich, immediately engrossing the palate with a coiled, twisted structure that slingshots into a tenacious, chewy finish.” Jeb Dunnuck gave this wine 94 points, calling it a “wonderfully elegant wine… Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and earthy undertones all run through this powerful, deep Syrah.”
Very Limited; Only 260 cases made, most of which has already gone to the Wine Club.
In 2022, we picked the south and west facing high-density grapes before the heatwave, whereas the older vines required us to wait another 3 to 4 weeks to ripen, finally concluding October 7 at good sugar and ripeness levels. The wine was completely destemmed and aged in 228L barriques and 400L French oak barrels (18% new) before being selected for this cuvee. We blended the selected barrels after 9 months, then returned them to barrel for another 9 months before bottling. We love the intense, yet restrained power of this wine, born of exquisite farming from these venerable, stately vines, lovingly tended over a long, slow growing season.
The critics agree. Wine Advocate’s Matthew Luczy gave this wine 95 points saying “the texture is dramatically intense and rich, immediately engrossing the palate with a coiled, twisted structure that slingshots into a tenacious, chewy finish.” Jeb Dunnuck gave this wine 94 points, calling it a “wonderfully elegant wine… Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and earthy undertones all run through this powerful, deep Syrah.”
Very Limited; Only 260 cases made, most of which has already gone to the Wine Club.
Wine Profile
| Vintage | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Wine Style | Red Wine |
| Varietal | Syrah |
| Size | 750 ml |