Accolades
2005 Topel Meritage, Le Mariage
David Falchek, Wine Critic - Winestein
Wine Review Online, May 26, 2010
Another spectacular example of top-of-line Meritage comes from a small, Hopland, Calif., winery. Topel 2005 "Le Mariage" Meritage comes off with bold black fruit and chocolate flavors with a slight herbal character and a birch finish. This wine has great balance, shows each grape's character, and is complex without being brooding. Read Meritage Enjoyable Year Round…
2005 Topel Meritage, Le Mariage
Gerald Boyd's Special Selection
Wine Review Online, January 2008
2003 Topel Syrah, CuveÉ Donnis
Double Gold, Best of Class, Best of Region, 2006 California State Fair
Silver, 2006 Riverside Wine Competition
2002 Topel Cabernet Sauvignon, Hidden Vineyard
Silver, 2006 Savor Magazine North of the Gate Wine Competition
Silver, 2006 Dallas Morning News Wine Competition
Silver, 2006 California State Fair Wine Competition
2002 Topel Pinot Noir, Serendipity Vineyard
Silver, 2006 Los Angeles International Wine Limited Production Competition
Quarterly Review of Wines, Spring 2006
Topel 2001 Monterey County Cabernet Sauvignon, Hidden Valley Reserve
“Dense inky color; deep bramble berry and spice aromas; concentrated berry flavors, balanced acidity and nicely integrated tannins; long concentrated finish.”
Topel 2000 Mendocino County Cabernet Sauvignon, Hidden Valley Reserve
“Very deep almost inky color; dense layered nose, blackberry, herbal and coffee accents; bright fleshy dark fruit flavors, very good structure; great length and persistence through the finish.”
Topel 2002 Mendocino County Cuveé Donnis Syrah
“Deep concentrated raspberry and chocolate nose; dense berry and dark chocolate flavors, hints of spice; rich texture with length through the finish.”
More… (1015kb)
Santa Rosa Press Democrat Wine of the Week , January 25, 2006
Topel 2002 Pinot Noir, Serendipity Vineyard, Monterey - (4.5 stars out of 5)
“A rich, smoky Pinot Noir, with a velvety texture. Aromas and flavors of tangy cherry, chocolate, dill and vanilla. Prominent oak. Big flavors. Medium complexity.
PinotFile, April 24, 2006
Topel 2002 Serendipity Vineyard Monterey County Pinot Noir
“A very unique and interesting Pinot Noir. The nose is layered with cherries, spices (notably cardamom) and a little sauvage. The wine tastes terrific but is unlike any other California Pinot Noir I have ever had. It really stumped me when I tried to pin down the flavors but there was a load of stylish, complex spices here. This Pinot in nicely weighted and balanced, and a kick to drink.”
More… (205kb)
Touring & Tasting Magazine, Spring 2006
Topel 2002 Pinot Noir, Serendipity
“Rich and smoky with aromas and flavors of tangy cherry, chocolate and vanilla.”
Topel 2003 Syrah, Cuveé Donnis
“Bold, spicy and rich, with a long finish; liquid passion.”
Topel 2003 Le Mariage Meritage
“A magical, opulent blend in the true tradition of Bordeaux.”
Topel 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, Hidden Vineyard
“Elegant, with intense flavors of blackberry, anise and chocolate.”
<More… (351kb)
Vintners Club Great California Cabernets, Non-Napa Tasting, October 2004
Topel 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, Hidden Vineyard - First place! (11 entries)
Wine Enthusiast
2001 Cabernet Sauvignon - Hidden Vineyard - 89 points
" Much work evidently went into crafting this wine. It’s intense in black currant flavors, with a beautiful polish of chocolate and green olive. The tannins are softly rich. There’s good balancing acidity, and a sweet jacket of spicy oak. This is a Mendocino Cab worth watching.
Wine Advocate
2000 Cabernet Sauvignon - Hidden Vineyard - 89 points
Primary, gorgeously rich, jammy blackberry and blueberry fruit along with hints of minerals and oak emerge from this straightforward, medium to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. With loads of fruit in addition to well-integrated acidity and tannin, it should reveal more complexity over the next 2-3 years, and last for 12-15. If more definition and complexity do in fact arrive, look for this 2000 to merit an outstanding score.
L.A. County Wines of the World Competition
2000 Cabernet Sauvignon - Hidden Vineyard - Best of Class, Gold Medal
Wine Enthusiast
1999 Cabernet Sauvignon, Hidden Vineyard - 90 points
Wine Advocate
1998 & 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon, Hidden Vineyard - 89+points
These are impressive efforts from an unheralded winery that deserves more attention. The '99 boasts a dense inky/purple color as well as a fruit driven nose of sweet cranberry liqueur intermixed with cassis and raspberries. With ripe tannin, medium body, and loads of fruit in its pure, surprisingly concentrated, expansive personality, it is still primary and unformed, but I enjoyed its seamlessness and component parts.
The '98's evolved, complex bouquet of damp earth, black currants, plums, and spice box aromas is followed by a seductive, fleshy, medium to full bodied wine. Lush complex and already delicious. These enviably pure cabernets are not burdened down with huge tannin, and will not whack the taster over his head in terms of power or intensity. Rather, they are beautifully balanced and elegant, with admirable fruit characteristics.
Join Our Wine Club
Our wines are handcrafted from very small lots of outstanding fruit, which means that our annual production is very limited and many of our wines sell out within months of release. The best way to ensure that you have priority access to all of our wines is to join Club Topel.
