91 Points - 2018 Stolo Vineyards Estate Dry Gewurztraminer

Pale yellow-gold. Pungent citrus and orchard fruits are complemented by hints of smokiness and candied rose. Fleshy and dry on the palate, offering sappy orange, nectarine and honey flavors that firm up quickly on the back half. Finishes on a repeating pit fruit note, with strong persistence and lingering florality.

Aged in a combination of neutral oak barrels and stainless steel tanks.

Winery note: this wine is on sale until sold out $13 per bottle, 1 case minimum. Regularly $25. Order Here

 

94 Points - 2017 Stolo Vineyards Reserve Syrah
Lurid purple. Expressive dark berry preserve, exotic spice, potpourri and smoky mineral aromas display excellent clarity and pick up olive and vanilla nuances with air. Sappy, impressively concentrated blackberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors show sharp focus, and a hint of candied violet emerges on the back half. Alluringly sweet and seamless in texture, finishing with energetic, spice-driven persistence and subtle tannins that add gentle firming grip.

There's a very low 12% alcohol here, by the way, courtesy of the fruit being harvested at a mere 21.9 Brix. 40% whole clusters and 25% new French oak.
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91 Points - 2017 Stolo Vinyeards Reserve Chardonnay

Brilliant yellow. Ripe citrus fruit and melon qualities on the nose, along with hints of peach and pungent flowers. Lively pear and Meyer lemon flavors show very good depth and a jolt of spiciness on the back half.

A sweet vanilla nuance emerges on the sharply focused and persistent finish, which also reveals a spicy touch of ginger. 30% new French oak. Order Here

 

92 Points - 2017 Stolo Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir
 

Vivid red. Powerful, mineral-accented red and dark berry preserve aromas are complemented by exotic spice and potpourri nuances.

Fleshy and appealingly sweet, offering energetic black raspberry, cherry and candied rose flavors underscored by an energizing mineral flourish.

Shows impressive energy and floral lift on the pliant, spice-tinged finish, which is framed by smooth, well-knit tannins. 25% whole clusters and 30% new French oak. Order Here

 

92 Points - 2017 Stolo Vineyards Estate Syrah

Deep vivid magenta. Expressive aromas of dark berry and cherry liqueur, olive and incense, plus a smoky nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Fleshy and broad on the palate but lively as well, offering intense, spice-accented blackberry and boysenberry flavors and a hint of candied violet.

Finishes seamless and impressively long, with lingering florality, a touch of menthol and supple tannins that add shape and subtle grip.

There's a distinctly Old World quality to this wine that I find intriguing. Made with 30% whole clusters and aged in 18% new oak. Order Here

 

Joshua Raynolds
Vinous Wine Reviews

Josh’s interest in wine was kindled in the early 1980s while he was at Boston University, pursuing an English degree that he received in 1985. The crash of 1987 put a merciful end to a short-lived stint in the financial world and he decided to make the plunge into the wine trade, beginning in retail in Washington, D.C. and spending the better part of 1989 and 1990 visiting and working in vineyards and cellars in France and Germany. In 1993 he moved to New York to work for a national importer, traveling across the country to represent the portfolio until 2005, when Steve Tanzer asked him to join the International Wine Cellar. Over the last decade Josh has been a regular participant, speaker and judge at wine conferences around the country and contributed articles to Wine & Spirits magazine when there’s time to break away from attending to visiting the wine regions that he covers and trying to keep up with his tasting schedule. He lives on New York’s Long Island with his wife, Merrie Louise and their two daughters. Contact Josh Here