2023 Stolpman Great Places Ruben Solorzano

With grace and power in equal measure, this standout syrah rides velvety waves of tapenade, tar, crushed violets, concentrated plums and black figs. Ash and scorched earth are hugged by medium-grained tannins, while juniper and botanical notes infuse spiced fruit and meat. Best after 2029.

A considerable jump up from last year's already impressive 2022 vintage, the 2023 Syrah The Great Places Ruben Solorzano showcases a block of Serine clones originating from Gentaz-Dervieux plantings in C"te-R"tie's C"te-Blonde. The vines were first planted at Stolpman in 2007, foreshadowing what would become The Great Places series. Within the quartet, this bottling offers the most spice-driven and floral bouquet, as well as the most assertive tannin structure. While generally a dark-fruited wine, this cuv,e leans slightly toward the red fruit side of the spectrum, complemented by an increasingly complex bouquet of blood sauce, cardamom, black pepper and rising tones of camphor. The palate exudes a touch more finesse and weightlessness compared to the rest of the range, within the scope of a decidedly powerful, burly wine overall. It culminates with an incredibly multifaceted finish, melding myriad warming spice tones and meaty flourishes with vibrant saturation, immense depth and a chewy chassis of structural tannins.