2014 Stolpman Vineyards, Sangiovese, Carbonic, Ballard Canyon.
The Carbonic Sangiovese from Stolpman is a fun and easy wine, a bright and fresh example of ready to go village red that is made by dumping the grapes into a stainless tank whole cluster add a bit of fermenting juice and seal the tank and let it go for 15 days, occasionally venting in CO2, this process is a way to ferment without the extraction of tannins and make a pop and serve wine, no extended aging or oak required. The color here is not overly dark, ruby and garnet and the nose is floral and juicy with lots of cherry and strawberry aromas and main palate flavors along with crushed raspberry, cinnamon stick, pomegranate, sweet and savory herbs, dried currant and pipe tobacco. This is best slightly chilled and with summer outdoor foods and BBQ, as well as traditional pasta, mushroom dishes and mixed meats and cheeses. The Stolpman gang is innovative and are making an awesome array of wines, they have become one of California’s leading wineries with their Syrah offering being some of the best in the new world along with seriously delicious white Rhone style whites and red blends. It all starts with the vines and the grapes, and that is where they excel, these are winegrowers first and foremost and it shows in every wine they produce. This almost Beaujolais style red Carbonic Sangiovese is really nice and pleasing, drink it up over the coming year, best from 2015 to 2017.
($22 Est.) 88-90 Points, grapelive
