The 2021 Stolo Reserve Hillside Chardonnay is one of the standout domestic Chardonnays we tasted last year, offering Puligny-Montrachet-like precision with laser-beam focus, lovely minerality, and cool-toned fruit. Rajat Parr began working with Stolo in 2019, and 2021 marks the first vintage he completed on his own at the estate. His Burgundian sensibility is evident here, with the Reserve Hillside bottling surpassing even the excellent regular Chardonnay we offered from the 2020 vintage. The vineyard itself was planted more than 30 years ago on a dramatic hillside of Monterey Shale limestone with thin topsoil, perched on an ancient sea mount overlooking the Pacific. Dry-farmed, sustainably maintained original vines with deep root systems and thin canopies deliver fruit of remarkable character. Cool, foggy nights complement the soils, creating structure and tension in the wines that yield Chardonnay with a balance of California generosity and European-style precision. Parr’s background as one of America’s top sommeliers has sharpened his palate and informed his belief that this coastal pocket of California is among the best places outside Burgundy for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The 2021 Reserve Hillside Chardonnay is a gorgeous release—fresh, mineral, and beautifully structured—making it a perfect choice for both European and domestic palates. We are offering special pricing on these last bottles, so dont miss them!
Wine Advocate (Erin Brooks) 95 pts! "The 2021 Chardonnay Estate Hillside Reserve comes from some of the first vines in Cambria, planted in 1998 by John Alban, and was partially matured in new oak. It opens with touches of flint and charcuterie that give way to peaches, quince and banana with notes of acacia and honey. The medium-bodied palate is surprisingly fresh and bright, offering a silky texture, generous spicy accents and a long, flinty finish. It could use another year or two in bottle to unwind."
2021 Stolo Family Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve Hillside
2021 Stolo Family Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve Hillside
The 2021 Stolo Reserve Hillside Chardonnay is one of the standout domestic Chardonnays we tasted last year, offering Puligny-Montrachet-like precision with laser-beam focus, lovely minerality, and cool-toned fruit. Rajat Parr began working with Stolo in 2019, and 2021 marks the first vintage he completed on his own at the estate. His Burgundian sensibility is evident here, with the Reserve Hillside bottling surpassing even the excellent regular Chardonnay we offered from the 2020 vintage. The vineyard itself was planted more than 30 years ago on a dramatic hillside of Monterey Shale limestone with thin topsoil, perched on an ancient sea mount overlooking the Pacific. Dry-farmed, sustainably maintained original vines with deep root systems and thin canopies deliver fruit of remarkable character. Cool, foggy nights complement the soils, creating structure and tension in the wines that yield Chardonnay with a balance of California generosity and European-style precision. Parr’s background as one of America’s top sommeliers has sharpened his palate and informed his belief that this coastal pocket of California is among the best places outside Burgundy for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The 2021 Reserve Hillside Chardonnay is a gorgeous release—fresh, mineral, and beautifully structured—making it a perfect choice for both European and domestic palates. We are offering special pricing on these last bottles, so dont miss them!
Wine Advocate (Erin Brooks) 95 pts! "The 2021 Chardonnay Estate Hillside Reserve comes from some of the first vines in Cambria, planted in 1998 by John Alban, and was partially matured in new oak. It opens with touches of flint and charcuterie that give way to peaches, quince and banana with notes of acacia and honey. The medium-bodied palate is surprisingly fresh and bright, offering a silky texture, generous spicy accents and a long, flinty finish. It could use another year or two in bottle to unwind."
