“Seth Kunin’s winemaking style offers the elegance and complexity found in top-class French wines, as well as the sweet, ripe, tasty fruit the better California offerings routinely possess” . . . Robert Parker
| 90 Points |
2006 KUNIN WINES VIOGNIER, STOLPMAN VINEYARD
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 172, August 2007
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“I have always enjoyed Kunin's Viognier from the Stolpman Vineyard, and the 2006 reveals a beautiful poached pear, honeysuckle, and peach-filled style with more minerality than most California Viogniers. Medium to full-bodied with loads of fruit, good structure as well as delineation, this beauty should be enjoyed over the next 1-3 years.”
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| 90 Points |
2005 KUNIN WINES VIOGNIER, STOLPMAN VINEYARD
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 166, August 2006
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“Seth Kunin always does a good job with Viognier, and his 2005 Viognier Stolpman Vineyard offers crisp underlying acidity, a hint of minerality, plenty of buttery, melon-like fruit, medium body, and attractive freshness and purity. Enjoy it over the next 12 months to take advantage of its exuberance and restrained but flamboyant personality.”
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| 89 Points |
2005 KUNIN WINES PAPE STAR RHONE BLEND
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Issue 128, Sept/Oct 2006
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“Medium red-ruby. Musky aromas of blueberry and kirsch are superripe but fresh. Suave on entry, then lush and seamless in the middle, with ripe acids framing the blueberry and cherry fruit. Doesn't quite have the complexity for an outstanding rating, but this Rhone blend boasts lovely fruit and finishes with a sweet dusting of tannins.”
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| 90 Points |
2005 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 172, August 2007
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“Kunin's 2005 Syrah Santa Barbara exhibits a dark ruby/purple color as well as a fleshy, succulent style displaying loads of black currant, raspberry, smoke, camphor, and licorice characteristics. A hint of road tar also emerges as teh wine sits in the glass. Drink it over the next 5-7 years.”
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| 89 Points |
2004 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 166, August 2006
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“The 2004 Syrah Santa Barbara exhibits a peppery, earthy, sweet berry-scented nose as well as elegant, mid-weight flavors, more finesse than power, and good density and ripeness. Drink it over the next 4-6 years.”
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| 90 Points |
2004 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, ALISOS VINEYARD
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 166, August 2006
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“The 2004 Syrah Alisos Vineyard's deep ruby/purple color is followed by a classic bouquet of creme de cassis, road tar, underbrush, and earth. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, dense, rich, and long, it should keep for 7-8 years.”
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| 91 Points |
2004 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, ALISOS VINEYARD
Wine & Spirits, Vol. 26, No. 1, February 2007
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“The tart cherry scents of this wine yield an intriguing herbal character, the fruit bright and light enough to allow complexity to show through. It starts as a hint of chaparral, of dried sage and thyme, and intensifies as it takes on air. The tension between that herbal length of flavor an dthe darker fruit masks some of the warmth, as will a bone-in pork chop.”
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| 90 Points |
2004 KUNIN WINES VIOGNIER STOLPMAN VINEYARD
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 159, June 2005
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“Kunin has always done a good job building more minerality and definition into his Viognier than many of his peers. The 2004 Viognier Stolpman Vineyard is no shy white at 14.8% alcohol. In addition to its exotic tropical fruit and apricot liqueur-like characteristics, it offers notions of steely minerals and honeysuckle, good acidity and fine length. Drink it over next 1-2 years.”
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| 91 Points |
2003 KUNIN WINES PAPE STAR, LARNER VINEYARD
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Issue 128, Sept/Oct 2006
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“(a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% mourvedre and 15% syrah) Bright ruby-red. Rather wild, highly nuanced nose combines leather, cherry liqueur, tree bark and sandalwood. Sweet, lush and liqueur-like; this has the velvety texture and peppery, spicy character of a top-notched Vacqueyras. Creamy-sweet but kept firm and fresh by juicy acids. Very suave wine, with the material to handle its 15.4% alcohol.”
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| 90 Points |
2003 KUNIN WINES PAPE STAR, LARNER VINEYARD
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 159, June 2005
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“My favorite red here is the disarming, seductive 2003 Pape Star from the Larner Vineyard, which reveals Chateauneuf du Pape-like notes of kirsch liqueur, lavender, spice box, and loamy soil. This sexy, lush, elegant, medium to full-bodied red caresses the palate with no hard edges. Enjoy it over the next 3-4 years.”
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| 94 Points |
2003 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Issue 128, Sept/Oct 2006
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“Huge, floral nose; super-ripe, concentrated berry fruit with hints of celery salt, allspice and licorice, sweep over the palate; nicely balanced with beautiful acidity; noticeable tannins give it a lot of texture, but also make for a nice finish accented with cassis and sandalwood...”
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| 89 Points |
2003 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 159, June 2005
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“The 2003 Syrah Santa Barbara exhibits good integration of tannin in addition to attractive notes of flowers, blackberries, currants, spice, licorice and a hint of wood. Initially reticent, it opens beautifully both aromatically and on the palate. It should drink well for 4-5 years.”
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| 89 Points |
2003 KUNIN WINES VIOGNIER STOLPMAN VINEYARD
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 154, August 2004
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“The medium gold-colored 2003 Viognier Stolpman Vineyard exhibits exotic tropical fruit intermixed with honeysuckle and apricot comfiture in a medium to full-bodied, tasty, plush style. Drink it over the next 12-18 months.”
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| 90 Points |
2003 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, ALISOS VINEYARD
The Wine Spectator, February 28, 2007
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“Dense and complex, with layers of wild berry, beef carpaccio, pepper and earthy mineral flavors. Intense and concentrated, this holds onto its tight focus on the long, lingering finish. Drink now through 2011. 250 cases made. - J.L.”
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| 88 Points |
2003 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, ALISOS VINEYARD
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 159, June 2005
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“While somewhat coarse, the 2003 Syrah Alisos Vineyard is a charming offering with a deep ruby/purple color, aromas of smoke, black fruit, and earth, medium to full body, and rugged tannin. It should age nicely for 5-7 years.”
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| 92 Points |
2002 KUNIN WINES VIOGNIER, STOLPMAN VINEYARD
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 148, August 2003
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“Kunin’s 2002 Viognier Stolpman Vineyards is one of California’s finest. A fleshy fruit cocktail, it reveals honeysuckle, apricot jam, and spring flower garden-like scents. No wimpish effort, it is a full-bodied, brooding, well-delineated, pure white that lingers on the palate. Enjoy it over the next 12-24 months.”
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| 92 Points |
2002 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 154, August 2004
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“Seth Kunin continues to pursue an elegant, complex winemaking style that I find rewarding. His 2002 Syrah Santa Barbara reveals classic aromas of cassis along with tapenade and flowers (reminiscent of a Cote-Rotie). Its velvety texture, purity and medium-bodied, finely-tuned style with currant, cassis and licorice notes makes it a dead ringer for a French northern Rhone. Enjoy it over the next 7-8 years.”
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| 90-92 Points |
2002 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, BIEN NACIDO VINEYARD Z BLOCK
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 154, August 2004
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“The expressive, albeit tannic and backward 2002 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard Z Block (includes 7% Viognier in the blend) exhibits exotic aromas of Asian spices intermixed with incense, camphor, blackberries and cassis. This medium to full bodied, ripe 2002 reveals notions of tar, charred oak, and spice box emits moderately tannic finish. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2013”
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| 91 Points |
2002 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, ALISOS VINEYARD
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 154, August 2004
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“Saturated blue/purple in color, with more of the blueberry/blackberry fruit spectrum is the 2002 Syrah Alisos Vineyard. Possessing medium to full body, wonderful purity as well as density, and undeniable charm allied to serious muscle, extraction, and richness, this well-balanced Syrah will drink well for 8-10 years.”
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| 89 Points |
2001 KUNIN WINES ZINFANDEL, PASO ROBLES WESTSIDE
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 149, October 2003
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“Kunin continues to produce stylish wines that marry elegance with considerable flavor authority. This 2001 Zinfandel could easily be mistaken for a serious red Burgundy. Light to medium ruby-colored, with a glorious aroma of sweet cherries intermixed with raspberries and spice, this medium-bodied, slightly peppery effort possesses admirable finesse as well as elegance Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years.”
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| 90 Points |
2001 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, ALISOS VINEYARD
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 148, August 2003
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“The bigger (15.5% alcohol) 2001 Syrah Alisos Vineyard possesses a less saturated color, more green as well as black pepper aromas, and attractive plum, fig, smoke and black fruit characteristics. With ripe tannin, good acidity, and a luscious texture, it will drink well for 7-8 years.”
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| 89 Points |
2001 KUNIN WINES SYRAH, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 148, August 2003
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“The dark plum/ruby colored 2001 Syrah Santa Barbara exhibits complex aromatics of bacon fat, tapenade, and licorice. Dense, sweet, nicely-textured, berry, peppery, spicy flavors in addition to admirable finesse as well as power further characterize this effort. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.”
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“A revelation in these peer group tastings of Rhone Rangers, the Kunin Wines revealed refinement, intensity, multidimensional personalities, complexity, and beautifully fruited, seamless, textured personalities. These are some of the most elegant, complex efforts to come from California’s Central Coast . . .” Robert Parker
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| 92 Points |
2000 KUNIN WINES VIOGNIER, STOLPMAN VINEYARD
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 139, February 2002
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“The blockbuster 2000 Viognier Stolpman Vineyards may be the finest pure Viognier I have ever tasted from the region. It is no shy wine at 16.6% alcohol, but the alcohol is well hidden behind a marvelously-textured, sumptuous, explosively rich, powerful Viognier offering notes of honeysuckle, peach, apricot, and a hint of oak as well as minerals. Drink this knock-out Viognier over the next 12-18 months.”
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| 90 Points |
2000 KUNIN WINES SYRAH , FRENCH CAMP VINEYARD
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 139, February 2002
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"Displays a Pinot-Noir-like delicacy and complexity in the floral, peppery, black currant, cherry and spice box aromas and flavors. Savory, soft, and beautifully knit, it represents an impeccable _expression of Syrah made in the Burgandian style. Consume it over the next 5-6 years.”
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| 90 Points |
2000 KUNIN WINES SYRAH , SANTA MARIA VALLEY
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 139, February 2002
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“The 2000 Santa Maria (63% from the Glen Nacido Vineyards and 37% from the Colson Canyon Vineyards) leans more towards a fruit bomb style with notes of bacon fat, crème de cassis, licorice and asphalt in its medium-bodied, soft, exquisitely balanced style. There is still delicacy to the wine despite its rich, concentrated fruit. It is round and generous yet elegant, a characteristic hard to achieve in California. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.”
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| 88 Points |
2000 KUNIN WINES SYRAH , SANTA RITA HILLS
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 139, February 2002
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“The least complex and complete of this quartet is the 2000 Santa Rita Hills, a promising viticulture region in Santa Ynez that is extremely cold, but the hang time for Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, etc. is extraordinarily long, hence adding to the complexity. This is a peppery, currant, and berry-scented effort with fewer nuances and less substance than the other cuvees. Nevertheless, it is an excellent, French-like Syrah that will drink well for 5-6 years. Readers should take note of Kunin Wines.”
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