Sun & Earth 2020

BACKGROUND
Maria and Ruben Solorzano’s vision: their own 4-acre block within Stolpman Vineyards wholly dedicated to crafting a namesake world-class wine.  Truly vineyard-crafted, Ruben harvests the mid-ripening Grenache with both the earlier ripening Syrah and the later ripening Mourvèdre.  This way the flavors of the different grapes marry as the flavor of the grape juice turns into the primary flavor of the wine.

Sun & Earth is the English translation of Maria and Ruben’s surname, Solorzano.

VINTAGE
The cold, rainy Spring conditions set up what we thought would be an extremely late harvest at Stolpman.  When record breaking heat hit in early September, ripening and flavor concentration hit unparalleled heights, yet the vines, deep-rooted in our Limestone, had time to recover and re-balance prior to peak ripeness weeks later.  

SENSORY 
2020 Sun & Earth pushes the edge of rounded ripeness with sweet + sour plum and cinnamon stick.  With so much concentration, we broke our own rules and employed 20% new French 500L puncheon as a framework for a more refined opulence.  Polished and sparklingly pure, yet tucked away, a spicy flare lurks in the wine’s youth. 

Because we co-ferment Sun & Earth, Ruben Solorzano becomes the conductor, crafting the wine in the vineyard as he calls the picks and percentages.  Now that we taste the finished product, the Syrah dominates with deep bass notes.  The Grenache brings the highs of strings and flutes, and the Mourvèdre brings harmony and fleshes out everything in between.