PnP. Color of concord grape juice. Aromas of blackberry and grape. Initially sweet fruit on the palate. Within a few minutes and with some Pork Pozole this morphs into something with a bit more balance and structure. Still felt sweet with not enough structure behind it for our taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep opaque purple. Nose: Soy sauce, pepper, black olive, lots of game. Deep black currant sauce, iron, rich depth, super long and good acid and body. In a very sweet spot here. Firm but ripe, favorite Stolpman wine ever.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with earlier tasting notes. Dark red-ruby, full bodied, aromas of floral and mocha, complex, concentrated big, forward black and blue fruits, tones of anise/licorice, hints of mocha chocolate and herbs, turning to a very long soft savory fruit filled finish.
I was told to wait on this wine by my former boss at a wine shop in Chicago. I made it almost a year and a half since purchase, and I couldn’t take it any longer!
In short...just a joy to drink with all those meaty Syrah characteristics I love (bacon fat) paired with some blue/black fruits with the right amount of acid.
This was just what I was looking for and even drank better an hour or two into the evening. Sad it was my only bottle, but happy I caught it still on its way up.
Olive tapenade and sweet salty meats. A fantastic CA Syrah. At last 5 years left to this, probably more, but it's in such a great place now I can't see why I'd advise anyone to wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1.5 hour decant. Medium purple with medium clear rim. Fantastic Syrah nose-- dark fruits, olives, black pepper. A little bland on the forepalate with just a sensation of sweetness but explodes into blue and dark fruits on the mid-palate. Tannins fully resolved. Pepper and dark fruits on the finish. Impression of the wine kept on improving throughout the evening. Was surprised to give it as high of a score as I did.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stolpman is consistently excellent. For me Angeli is the pick of their wines but this is very good too. I've had several vintages of Hilltops over the years and this doesn't disappoint. In a good place right now but almost certainly several years to go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Open the previous night. Took at least 90 minutes to open up. Had the last glass the following night, and the wine had improved markedly. Nice balance, floral aromatics, blue and black fruit notes, oak lingers pleasantly in the background, a very consistent, and extended finish. I think that the wine still has a lot of life left in it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted about 90 minutes. Probably could air a bit longer. Inky purple. Ripe black and blue fruit, still with tannins and a lateral tongue acidity that improves with time. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red-ruby, full bodied, aromas of floral and mocha, complex, concentrated big, forward black and blue fruits, tones of anise/licorice, tones of mocha chocolate and herbs, turning to a very long soft savory fruit filled finish.
Domestic (err.... sortof) Syrah (... well, mostly...) (The Apt): Pnp'ed and that actually worked ok for this wine (many others in the tasting needed a decant or were decanted and came across a lot better). This was a sweeter tasting wine than the previous ones. Tasted a bit jammy even. With a bit of swirling got some of the more meaty syrah characteristics, but these weren't dominant. Liked it though.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
wonderfully consistent producer of excellent syrah. always better on the second night. This particular effort does not represent the usual value that Stolpman can be counted on for.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Muted and reserved on the nose. Iron, dark reds, slightly gamey. Primary. Palate is very earthy and a touch of gaminess. Noticeably deficient in fruit, though this is very young. Nicely balanced and will be fun to share its development over the next few years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
$48. Darn good Syrah loaded with dark fruit and savory aromas and flavors. Not overoaked. Again, a bit high priced for me (even at the $38 club price).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/3/2023 - ddmhunter wrote: 92 Points
The last one 😩
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2023 - Janstan Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still drinking well. Had after dinner with a few cheeses
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2020 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fabulous Syrah. Aged well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2020 - EvanJB wrote:
Wonderful
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2019 - anderegg wrote:
PnP. Color of concord grape juice. Aromas of blackberry and grape. Initially sweet fruit on the palate. Within a few minutes and with some Pork Pozole this morphs into something with a bit more balance and structure. Still felt sweet with not enough structure behind it for our taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2019 - g money Likes this wine: 92 Points
In a perfect place. Should hold another year or so, maybe longer, but why wait. Cola, anise, and charcoal, really nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2018 - CPSchoeff Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep opaque purple. Nose: Soy sauce, pepper, black olive, lots of game. Deep black currant sauce, iron, rich depth, super long and good acid and body. In a very sweet spot here. Firm but ripe, favorite Stolpman wine ever.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2018 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent with earlier tasting notes. Dark red-ruby, full bodied, aromas of floral and mocha, complex, concentrated big, forward black and blue fruits, tones of anise/licorice, hints of mocha chocolate and herbs, turning to a very long soft savory fruit filled finish.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/12/stolpman-santa-ynez-valley-hilltops.html
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2018 - brasstab wrote: 91 Points
Big and brassy. Classic CA Syrah. Had it with apps, but wish I'd had a steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2018 - brianpmccann Likes this wine: 92 Points
I was told to wait on this wine by my former boss at a wine shop in Chicago. I made it almost a year and a half since purchase, and I couldn’t take it any longer!
In short...just a joy to drink with all those meaty Syrah characteristics I love (bacon fat) paired with some blue/black fruits with the right amount of acid.
This was just what I was looking for and even drank better an hour or two into the evening. Sad it was my only bottle, but happy I caught it still on its way up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
2/18/2018 - wormfarmer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Olive tapenade and sweet salty meats. A fantastic CA Syrah. At last 5 years left to this, probably more, but it's in such a great place now I can't see why I'd advise anyone to wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2018 - RobDM Likes this wine: 91 Points
Meat, smoky aromas. Beautiful balance of acidity & tannin
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2017 - Jonny d Likes this wine: 93 Points
1.5 hour decant. Medium purple with medium clear rim. Fantastic Syrah nose-- dark fruits, olives, black pepper. A little bland on the forepalate with just a sensation of sweetness but explodes into blue and dark fruits on the mid-palate. Tannins fully resolved. Pepper and dark fruits on the finish. Impression of the wine kept on improving throughout the evening. Was surprised to give it as high of a score as I did.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2017 - Puligny33 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Stolpman is consistently excellent. For me Angeli is the pick of their wines but this is very good too. I've had several vintages of Hilltops over the years and this doesn't disappoint. In a good place right now but almost certainly several years to go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2017 - mats13 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Library release. This was showing extremely well - complex, dark, powerful wildness that I prefer in my Syrah. In a great place right now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2017 - wine4lux Likes this wine: 90 Points
Open the previous night. Took at least 90 minutes to open up. Had the last glass the following night, and the wine had improved markedly. Nice balance, floral aromatics, blue and black fruit notes, oak lingers pleasantly in the background, a very consistent, and extended finish. I think that the wine still has a lot of life left in it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2016 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted about 90 minutes. Probably could air a bit longer. Inky purple. Ripe black and blue fruit, still with tannins and a lateral tongue acidity that improves with time. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2016 - Sauvyfan Likes this wine: 91 Points
charming easy drinker at a fair price. Stolpman always delivers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2015 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red-ruby, full bodied, aromas of floral and mocha, complex, concentrated big, forward black and blue fruits, tones of anise/licorice, tones of mocha chocolate and herbs, turning to a very long soft savory fruit filled finish.
https://t.co/mWTgmwK15N
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2015/12/del-dotto-cabs-stolpman-syrah-for-beef.html
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2015 - ddsolomon2000 wrote: 89 Points
a little rough around the edges. Mellows over an hour.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2015 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
10th bottle of the night......enjoyed by remaining guests, well-structured, lots of fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2014 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Domestic (err.... sortof) Syrah (... well, mostly...) (The Apt): Pnp'ed and that actually worked ok for this wine (many others in the tasting needed a decant or were decanted and came across a lot better). This was a sweeter tasting wine than the previous ones. Tasted a bit jammy even. With a bit of swirling got some of the more meaty syrah characteristics, but these weren't dominant. Liked it though.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2014 - ddmhunter Likes this wine: 92 Points
It's early but I had to try one, looking forward to the evolving, because it's already that good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2014 - Sauvyfan Likes this wine: 90 Points
wonderfully consistent producer of excellent syrah. always better on the second night. This particular effort does not represent the usual value that Stolpman can be counted on for.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2014 - Mootsie wrote: 88 Points
I agree with Pintag. Dark fruits, balanced yet a little over priced for what it is. Better options from this same area at a lower cost.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2014 - Sauvyfan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Muted and reserved on the nose. Iron, dark reds, slightly gamey. Primary. Palate is very earthy and a touch of gaminess. Noticeably deficient in fruit, though this is very young. Nicely balanced and will be fun to share its development over the next few years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2014 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another banner production year for this label. More N. Rhone or Cote Rotie style than Cali. Elegance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2014 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
$48. Darn good Syrah loaded with dark fruit and savory aromas and flavors. Not overoaked. Again, a bit high priced for me (even at the $38 club price).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment