Stolpman Vineyards Uni 2024

Viticulture

At Stolpman Vineyards, Roussanne is a labor of love. It is notorious for its slow and uneven ripening. To combat this, all bunches are hand-turned by vineyard staff once the outer facing grapes are ripened thus allowing the inner facing grapes to ripen evenly. With the rich, hedonistic Roussanne, an early harvested Chardonnay lends a lively acidity to the blend.

Healthy late winter and early spring rains pushed back bud break by a few weeks. Then, the growing season remained moderate without any vintage-defining heatwaves. The Chardonnay was harvested in early September for high-acid brightness. The Roussanne was delayed  the very end of October, the last grapes of the harvest, to achieve the perfect, tiny rust-colored Roussanne clusters.

Vinification

Vinification Immediately pressed
Vatting/Fermentation: Fermented in neutral 500L French Vache Forest Ermitage Puncheon
Cooperage & Elevage: Aged 10 months in neutral 500L French Vache Forest Ermitage Puncheon

Tasting notes

The color of summertime California hills of golden brush. Straw and honeysuckle ride over a pineapple core. A taut focus drives through the center of the mouth while concentrated fruit richness spreads out and surrounds. With only a few swirls a rich, dense world of fruit arrives with green apple and stone fruit joining the waft of pineapple. A voluptuous wine with mouth filling texture but with a classic, firmly built structure to carry it.

Winery Description

Leading Syrah Producer of Ballard Canyon AVA

Over 20 years ago, Thomas Stolpman, discovered what many might describe as one of the greatest viticultural sites on earth. Hidden in the hills of California’s Central Coast, on a rare Limestone outcropping & unobstructed from the Pacific Ocean wind, this unique land is ideally suited to grow Syrah and Roussanne grapes. Stolpman is committed to preserving this natural environment for thier vines through natural farming, dry farming, & sustainable employment. In the winery, they prefer native fermentation & minimal manipulation.

Dedicated to sensible farming & winemaking, they believe that they can create natural, vibrant, site-specific wines, with a focus unique to Ballard Canyon AVA, California. Their 220-acre property, of which 153 acres are currently planted to grapes, lies on three major limestone ridgelines in Santa Barbara County. By implementing revolutionary viticultural techniques, they push the dry-farmed limestone vines to unprecedented levels of quality.