Stel+Mar Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
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Ripe and rich, with sweet blackberry preserves, dark chocolate, and espresso. Juicy and fragrant with red berries and hibiscus. Tannins are supple and acidity is good.
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2021-
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STEL+MAR was started in 2018 by two 36 year olds, Chris Noll and Justin Dumitrescu. What started out as a part-time wine hobby quickly turned into a labor of love with the goal of putting award-winning wine into unique packaging using local artists. A modern winery propelled by Winemaker and Napa Valley veteran, Phillip Zorn.
Each year they personally select the best lots from each harvest; focusing on wines that are single varietal, unadultered and above all, showcase the winemaker and wine region. They enter each year both optimistic and opportunistic, paying obsessive attention to the weather, the rain, cool nights, and the delicate harvest. Growing up in Canada and being driven by the changing seasons, they see vineyards in a similar light with a distinct cycle of Birth, Dance and Rest. During Birth, soil, water and sunlight produce wine grapes; during the Dance, winemakers turn grapes into liquid art; finally, with Rest, the vineyards recover before the next year’s explosion of growth.
Not to be overlooked, STEL+MAR ensures that packaging design gets as much attention as the wine itself. Paper Art and Liquid Art goes very well together. Using local artists, like Steph Cheng and Jose Garcia, designs are tailored to each packaging format. Modern and sleek cans and boxes are designed as such with our classic geometric series. Refined and classic bottles adopt casual and whimsical designs reminiscent of California scenery and beach culture. Steph and Jose have created art for musicians such as Radiohead, Lizzo, Wilco, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, Mumford & Sons, Ray LaMontagne, James Bay, Snoop Dog and Childish Gambino.
Lodi is justifiably lauded for its old vine Zinfandels, but it is a production powerhouse when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon. Lodi and its surrounding area (San Joaquin County) rank third in the state in acres planted to Cab, behind Napa and Paso Robles/San Luis Obispo County. But in total tons crushed Lodi is number one by a wide margin, surpassing Napa and Paso combined. In other words, Lodi produces more Cabernet Sauvignon than anywhere else in the U.S. This more volume-driven approach to viticulture makes possible the value-oriented bottlings that so many wine drinkers reach for on an everyday basis. These offer the varietal’s classic profile of dark fruit, oak influence, subtle herbal and green pepper notes and solid structure. Try Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon from wineries like Cosentino, Ironstone, Lapis Luna and The Federalist.