August James Syrah 2022

Stolpman’s Pre Clonal, Own Rooted Projects
In 2007, our vineyard manager Ruben Solorzano embarked on the most ambitious project in the new world – gathering pre clonal vine material from some of the world’s best vineyards, and then planting those vines without rootstock at our vineyard in Ballard Canyon. This vine material was planted own rooted with 2.5 x 3 foot spacing allowing for 6,000 vines per acre which produce wines unlike anything we had ever tasted. Each acre can only be worked by hand – requiring the full-time human labor of one person per year, per acre to bring these wines to you. There are no tractors. There are no short cuts. This is what we’ve been working on since 2007 and we’re excited to share it with you.

In early 2013, after a seminal visit to Domaine Auguste Clape, we set out to model a vineyard after Clape’s Reynard parcel.  The steep, east-facing hillside produced its first crop, barely 400 pounds of fruit, in 2017, the same year our son August, was born. 
The smoke from exotic skewered meats and aromatic trays of olives filter softly through the drapery mixing with the salty ocean air.  Rays of red to blue to purple fruit pierce through the room at sunset - captivating the senses with a dashing last wink of confidence.   Finishing with a creamy, malty sense of calm.