Stolpman - La Cuadrilla 2023
Price: $32.99
Sale Price: $25.99
6+ Price: $24.99 / btl
| Producer | Stolpman |
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| Country | United States |
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| Region | California |
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| Subregion | Santa Ynez Valley |
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| Varietal | Grenache , Syrah, Mourvèdre, Sangiovese |
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| Vintage | 2023 |
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| Sku | 02873 |
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| Size | 750ml |
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We talk a lot about how wine is grown. Words like “biodynamic”, or “sustainable”, and all manner of environmentally conscious vernacular are commonplace in our emails and on our shelf labels. What makes this wine deeply special to me is that beyond it’s eco-friendly practices, Stolpman actually uses a model of “sustainable employment”.
"When Tom Stolpman purchased the land that is now Stolpman Vineyards, he declared that if his dream of owning a vineyard was to come true, it would not be on the backs of people being taken advantage of. He asked vineyard manager Ruben Solorzano to employ our vineyard workers year-round, so the team members could have a steady job, a career, and raise their families with security. Ruben Solorzano took Tom’s idea a step further: he aimed to further engage our workers. He wanted our crew members to learn the lifecycle of the vine and become engaged and passionate about their work. A man of action, Ruben started a training program in which he gave one Cuadra - a small vineyard block - to his team so they would take responsibility for their land. Each crew member became the farmer rather than just the worker. A few years later, once the crew had independently mastered vineyard management, Ruben revealed his grand experiment to Mr. Stolpman. Beginning with the 2009 vintage, we expanded the Cuadrilla program to blend in more wine from the vineyard in addition to the training Cuadra. Today, 10% of the vineyard’s production goes into the blend. The profits are returned to the crew members, divided by seniority, in the form of year-end bonuses." winery note
Though the blend changes year to year, Stolpman’s world class Syrah is always front and center! Grenache and Sangiovese round out the cuvee, giving it a fruity burst and a beautiful acid on the back end that makes it an awesome everyday drinker. It is nigh-impossible to find a domestic Syrah this good at this price point. Trust me- I’ve tried! But there’s a reason this is a staple among my weeknight wines. Beyond some of the most progressive worker programs in the industry, beyond the points and the price, this is simply a gorgeous wine designed for the ground up to be celebrated and enjoyed. Enjoy it alongside slow-roasted pork or carnitas, weeknight MacGyver meals, or as you close your laptop after your last zoom meeting of the day.
Vinous Media: 92 Points
"The 2023 La Cuadrilla is a fabulous entry-level offering. Bright, punchy and full of character, the 2023 delivers superb quality and striking purity of fruit. It's also a fabulous value. This blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Sangiovese is lights-out."
Wine Advocate: 92 Points
"A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Sangiovese whose proceeds are divided among Stolpman's vineyard workers, the 2023 La Cuadrilla is one of the better values in all California wine. It opens with a beautifully floral, energetic nose supplemented with focused, leathery accents. The palate is plush and succulent, concluding with a quenching, juicy and simply delicious finish framed by fine-grained tannins."
Jeb Dunnuck: 91 Points
James Suckling
"A fresh-tasting, juicy blend from the Stolpman property that's full-bodied, ripe and easy to drink. So affordable. Mild tannins and lots of freshness make it almost gulpable. Contains syrah, grenache, mourvedre and sangiovese. Drink now."
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