2012 Stolpman Angeli
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Tasting notes
Though the Angeli is made entirely of Stolpman Vineyard fruit, the family chooses to bottle it as a California wine to keep the focus on the Angeli wine, rather than on Stolpman, or Ballard Canyon. All Syrah. Made from the best of the estate – over time a particular hillside block has consistently become the source for this wine. Notes of dusty, earthy dark fruit with integrated spice (not oak spice). Supple tannins and mouth-watering acidity. Nice purity and focus with stimulating palate tension and pleasing harmony. In an introspective phase right now, but will no doubt become more expressive with time. (ECB)
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Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
(all syrah): Bright purple. Smoky cherry compote and dark berry liqueur on the deeply pitched, highly aromatic nose. Powerful blackberry, cassis and spicecake flavors stain the palate, picking up intense floral and Indian spice nuances with air. The smoky note comes back strong on the youthfully tannic finish, which lingers with serious persistence and building sweetness. This fruit was grown on ungrafted vines.
In the same ballpark, the 2012 Angeli is 100% Syrah that comes from a single block of own rooted vines. It too is medium to full-bodied, rich and textured, with pretty violets, purple fruits, spring flowers and edgy minerality. Seeing 80% whole clusters and 18 months in puncheons, it has bright acidity and clean, nicely focused feel. It is another outstanding Syrah that will evolve for a decade. This was a fantastic lineup by the team at Stolpman, and the wines are all made by Sashi Moorman. Tel. (805) 688-0400; www.stolpmanvineyards.com
The 2012 Syrah Angeli is the most overt of the Stolpman Syrahs. A wine of notable concentration and depth, the 2012 hits the palate with waves of fruit, all supported by beams of tannin. Small berries and loose bunches in this parcel give the Angeli a level of textural richness and depth that nearly buries the 70% whole clusters. In 2012, the Angeli is more about power than finesse, but it all works.