92pts Vinous
The 2023 La Cuadrilla is a fabulous entry-level offering. Bright, punchy and full of character, the 2023 delivers superb quality and striking purity of fruit. It’s also a fabulous value. This blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Sangiovese is lights-out.

- By Antonio Galloni on July 2024

Peter Stolpman and longtime Vineyard Manager Ruben Solorzano continue to build on their recent successes with this stellar set of new and upcoming releases. I am so impressed with the ambition here and how it has translated into wines that capture the soul of Ballard Canyon with distinct influences from the Rhône. The Syrahs, in particular, have never been so finessed and nuanced. Three new small-lot bottlings (August James, Jessica Lauren and Otto Reynard) lead the way. Made from own-rooted blocks planted with cuttings taken from one of the top domaines in Cornas, these are among the most exciting Syrahs in California.

92pts Wine Advocate
A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Sangiovese whose proceeds are divided among Stolpman's vineyard workers, the 2023 La Cuadrilla is one of the better values in all California wine. It opens with a beautifully floral, energetic nose supplemented with focused, leathery accents. The palate is plush and succulent, concluding with a quenching, juicy and simply delicious finish framed by fine-grained tannins.

From its founding in the early 1990s solely as a grape grower to its transition toward producing estate wines, Stolpman has remained a centerpiece of Santa Barbara County while constantly progressing and innovating. Through longtime vineyard manager Ruben Solorzano, their 150 acres of plantings can claim a biodynamic certification with the 2023 vintage, and future additions will derive from a proprietary nursery, eliminating the need for outside plant material. While the wines have always been solid and dependable, winemakers Kyle Knapp and Matt Nocus have taken things to another level in the last few vintages. Their work culminates in a quartet of high-density, low-yielding Syrahs bottled under The Great Places moniker; inspired by the iconic estates in the Northern Rhône, these bottlings inject the potential of California Syrah with a performance-enhancing shot, attaining levels of both textural density and weightless energy that the past wines have hinted at and sometimes glimpsed but never rendered with such complexity and clarity.

91pts Wine Enthusiast
This vineyard crew-led blend is always a charmer. The blend of 50% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and 15% Sangiovese offers dark cherry, berry and cigar box aromas on the nose. The palate lands with ripe fruit and toasty flavors, floating atop young, sticky tannins and a zippy acidity.