11/28/2019 - taylormd Likes this wine:

As good as I’ve tasted from Stolpman. Drinking beautifully.

8/11/2013 - taylormd Likes this wine:

The previous reviewer (FWOTA) captured my experience very accurately. While this wine was still nice upon opening, the tannins were a bit harsh. However, I finished the bottle 4-5 days after opening, and it had opened up wonderfully, the tannins had mellowed but not disappeared and it was a beautiful example of Barolo. The score is based upon that last glass. Definitely one to hold for a while or to decant heavily.

5/30/2013 - taylormd wrote:

Corked

2/25/2012 - taylormd Likes this wine:

A solid, well made wine if not particularly exciting to this palate.

1/27/2012 - taylormd wrote:

I'm a big fan of Stolpman syrah. There is a certain light, fresh and perfumed quality that I find to be very northern Rhone like and somewhat unusual for the Santa Ynez valley.

This is good straight from the bottle but I would definitely let it open up for an hour or so.

12/3/2011 - taylormd Likes this wine:

It pains me to say that this wine has gone quite precipitously downhill in the past year or so. The tannins have softened to the point of making the wine quite soft and shapeless.

While still a nice wine, the fruit has been largely largely replaced by funk and this is no longer the showstopper it once was. My suggestion would be to drink this ASAP and hope that your bottles held up better than mine.

10/28/2011 - taylormd Likes this wine:

This is lovely stuff, if Loire Cab Franc is your cup of tea (and its mine). A previous reviewer mentioned brocolli on the palate, which I think is a great description.

These are not overly complex wines, but for me, the combination of graphite and violets on the nose, medium weight and a soft and fleshy finish works great.

I wish I could talk more people into these wines but, alas, it appears to be a small (but exclusive) club.

8/20/2011 - taylormd Likes this wine:

This stuff is freakishly good for the price ($15). Ken Brown is the winemaker although he is careful not to put his name on it for the obvious reason that this is almost as good as his own label at less than half the price. If you are a fan of Central Coast Pinot, stock up . . . pronto!

Red and black fruit with spicey undertones. Yum, yum.

7/28/2011 - taylormd wrote:

I had fond memories of the first bottle of this I'd had a few months back and it didn't quite live up. Age has not been kind. The tannins have softened and left things a bit flat and one dimensional.

No longer a great value in my book.

7/16/2011 - taylormd Likes this wine:

Have had several bottle of this now and continue to enjoy it a lot. It seems to have mellowed just a bit since the last bottle with some of the bright cherry fruit dropping a way a bit.

It is the texture of this wine that really grabs you- somewhat aggressive (but sweet) tannins that take hold off your palette and take you on a nice little ride.

7/14/2011 - taylormd Likes this wine:

Rich and ripe with that buttery style that seems to serve Rhone whites so well. Very well made and well balanced but definitely on the bigger side. For $11, the QPR is outstanding.

7/10/2011 - taylormd Likes this wine:

This is really wonderful stuff- had the color of faded caramel and a caramel like finish to match. Long, sweet and delicate finish.

5/1/2011 - taylormd wrote:

I confess to being a Chenin Blanc novice but I found this wine to be dazzling- wonderfully tart, sweet and creamy at the same time with a nose of honey and tropical fruit. Highly recommended for the $23 I paid.

2/23/2011 - taylormd wrote:

This is quite drinkable, if a good bit overoaked for my taste. Nonetheless, for $5, an impressive bargain.

2/6/2011 - taylormd wrote:

In a sampling of mid-priced Aussie Cabs, this was my favorite of the night. Mint and menthol on the mid-palate with a balanced but lengthy finish. Very nice for the price.

11/20/2010 - taylormd wrote:

A little darker and earthier than ZM' more recent vintage syrah, it nicely shows its age.

11/19/2010 - taylormd wrote:

Well made, but simple and one-dimensional. Definitely not up to the 92 pts given by James Halliday's Wine Companion, whatever that is . . .

11/17/2010 - taylormd wrote:

Quite closed and overly tannic. Hard to know whether this would benefit from aging a couple years or not, but definitely not great at present. From the little I've read, this is typical for the '09 CDP vintage.

11/17/2010 - taylormd wrote:

Quite good. Great nose- lots of floral notes, medium bodied with good length. Dry. If you like the style, this is a good representation.

5/24/2010 - taylormd wrote:

Not bad with good length on finish. But fruit up front is a bit overpowering.

4/14/2010 - taylormd wrote:

In a word . . . solid. This is very well made wine and an incredible value at $10 per bottle. If you needed proof that there are excess grapes of very high caliber floating around Napa in this economy, this is it. Smoky with substantial tannins and a lingering finish, I was very impressed. Stock up on this stuff.

3/7/2010 - taylormd wrote:

Syrah at its best and noticeably better than the 05 vintage- concentrated, smooth, well balanced with great finish.

3/4/2010 - taylormd wrote:

Very light bodied and smooth- not much going on here.

3/2/2010 - taylormd wrote:

Too sharp and fruity for my taste.

2/19/2010 - taylormd wrote:

Not overly complex but nice silky tanins and a medium finish. Lots of oak on the nose.

2/8/2010 - taylormd wrote:

Loved it. Lush and full bodied with great finish.