Sun & Earth 2023

A Stolpman & Solorzano Legacy
In 2014, we partnered with legendary viticulturalist, Ruben Solorzano to select grapes from his top vineyards and make the Santa Barbara County red blend, Para Maria. While Para Maria has always delivered many weight-classes above its bottle cost, we knew that Ruben yearned to create his own Estate and make a world class wine, sparing no expense. In 2016, the Stolpman’s gave Ruben and Maria the 4 acre parcel above their home on the Ballard Canyon Estate to do just that.   
Ruben own-rooted Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah vines at the extremely high density of 6,000 vines/acre to limit the yield per vine and heighten concentration.  All work must be done by hand without the space for mechanization.
The wine is created in the vineyard as Ruben is hyperfocused on training each different varietal to ripen together to allow for co-fermenting. The flavor profiles marry while still grape juice and transform into one seamless wine. Ruben selects only his favorite sub-lots to classify as Sun+Earth, often with only 10-12% of the wine making the cut.    
Sun+Earth is the English translation of Maria and Ruben’s surname, Solorzano. 
Healthy late season rains pushed back bud-break and the growing season by 3-4 weeks. We escaped the summer without any extreme heat events that would have accelerated ripening. This moderate weather led to even, slow sugar accumulation. October weather warmed up and pushed the vines through the finish line for a smooth, seamless, and plush vintage that still carries plenty of bright energy.
The perfect growing conditions of 2023 bring the Sun + Earth cuvee to a new pinnacle. The wine has astounding tactile density. The oozy, gooey palate is framed by a tarry chocolate crust. Floating above the sheer volume and viscosity, pretty notes of purple sage flowers, red apple, to hints of sweet tobacco and a most delicate anise note. With just moments of air, a red beam of strawberry malt appears above the dark, oceanic depth. A silky, velvet tannin brings the surging vortex of mouth-filling yum to a succinct finish.