2009 Stolpman Roussanne L'Avion

Community Tasting Notes (33) Avg Score: 91.2 points

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  1/10/2020 - Seafoam Manor wrote: 92 Points

  This one somehow got lost in the cellar and, while a little bit tired, it did manage to hit some pretty high points. Deep golden color... think young Sauternes. Medium++ intensity on the nose and leaves you pretty certain that you know what a processing plant for dried tropical fruits smells like. Ripe, dried pineapple is the dominant note, but lemon, mango, guava and orange are all mixed in there. There's a strange note that at times feels a bit like straw or a bit mineral, but you can't really put your finger on it. The palate is directly aligned with the nose, with a giant dose of dried fruit and that mineral meets hay thing. Full bodied, with medium- acid, yet it somehow avoids being totally flabby. I think it's the mineral streak that keeps it relatively lively, but there's something holding it together. This was probably better a few years back, but was surprising for eleven year old CA Roussanne.
  
  This not only held up on day two, but it turned a nice corner. It is much less tropical and obvious and, for lack of a better term, has taken on more of a "grown-up", more nuanced profile. When I opened this, I thought that this was likely headed for the kitchen sink, but this has really been a revelation for the potential for this wine specifically, but also a reminder that the greater Santa Barbara area is so young that I don't think anyone is exactly sure what it truly is yet and a few surprises like this are inevitable.

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  9/22/2017 - bbakove wrote: 91 Points

  Rumpelstiltskin gold, right out to the edges. By the color and the way it coats the glass, you'd be forgiven for expecting a CA Chardonnay. Tree fruits and flowers (with notes of caramel and vanilla) on the nose. Mouthfeel is round & viscous and very even through to the finish. Nose translates onto the palate, blending with crushed limestone, vanilla and a touch of citrus, well supported by crisp acidity. Medium intensity and a medium long finish. A slightly different approach to a Roussanne, with a tad more weight and viscosity, revealing new aspects of the grape. Stand alone or with food, this wine works!

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  7/22/2017 - Aztec94 Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Deep golden with an almost orange tinge. Weighty, had a little viscosity and a slick mouthfeel. Melon and citrus, with slight (white) pepper (?) on the finish and just enough acid to keep it from being flabby.

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  3/23/2016 - bbakove wrote:

  Pending

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  7/27/2015 - Djfermentation Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Absolutely loved this wine. It had great mouthfeel, nice weight, yet finished clean with great acidity. It paired perfectly with panko and parsley crusted scallops.

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View all 33 Community Tasting Notes

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