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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.4 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 369 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by DarthAardvark83 on 3/22/2024 & rated 92 points: Dark cherry and currant on the nose, immediately after decanting due to a broken cork. Showing its age, very dark, showing a little browning in color. Complex overripe berries, still has soft tannins present. Lingers but a bit played out. (156 views) | | | Tasted by ogres3 on 7/5/2023 & rated 91 points: Reasonably enjoyable. Pleasant smooth fruit, don't think it's over the hill (803 views) | | | Tasted by ogres3 on 4/5/2023 & rated 92 points: Fairly light, fresh fruit, victim of a wine tasting. (921 views) | | | Tasted by manny651 on 3/24/2023 & rated 89 points: fruit is fading :( still smooth (766 views) | | | Tasted by noni15 on 2/27/2023 & rated 93 points: Day 1: 92 pts.
Day 2 : 93 pts. Quiet surprised from being a 2007 vintage but it showed a better integration and balance at the palate. (857 views) | | | Tasted by ibglowin on 3/13/2022 & rated 92 points: Still freaking amazing even after 14 years post harvest. I did not want to finish the bottle as it was just that good still. Not even close to over the hill. Stored at 55F since receiving helps. Just perfect. (1655 views) | | | Tasted by tominasia on 10/26/2021 & rated 90 points: Reaching the end - drink up. (1692 views) | | | Tasted by Heidiva on 10/20/2021: word (1628 views) | | | Tasted by Falconwing on 6/20/2021 & rated 94 points: Saw this in a wine list and ordered it. Smooth and structured. Nice spice. Aged perfectly. We enjoyed more then Our last few Opus and other 300 dollar plus wines (1790 views) | | | Tasted by wmccone54 on 5/22/2021 & rated 92 points: All the youthful characteristics noted back in 2014 have since faded, now in the latter stages of development. Displays a dulling ruby core, no signs of bricking. Even with an Ah-so cork puller, the cork completely disintegrated, and the wine was strained and poured into a small Riedel decanter. Hitting on all cylinders with aromatics and flavors showing ripe black cherry, blackberry liqueur, spicy currant, creamy vanilla, sweet licorice, milky coffee, drying tobacco, and mulchy soil. Well balanced, with tannin and acidity supporting a very satisfying finish. Perfect accompaniment to a grilled ribeye and grilled Brussels Sprouts. Drink now, unlikely to improve with further cellaring; however, this wine should drink very well for at least 2-3 more years. (1803 views) | | | Tasted by hankj on 5/20/2021 & rated 93 points: Drinking about as well as aged WA wine drinks right now. To my taste it's too full bodied a wine to hold into very old age, but the current level of tertiary character works just right. (1436 views) | | | Tasted by Cailles on 3/30/2021 & rated 90 points: No notes taken. This had quite a nice nose with ripe, fresh fruit and a few earthy aromas. On the palate is was rather thin with the same ripe fruit and mineral backbone but not much else and not in the intensity and precision of other 2007s. While the structure was good with fine tannins and a good acidity, it has a rather short and simple finish. All in all a good wine but without any exceptionalism. (1939 views) | | | Tasted by tominasia on 1/5/2021 & rated 92 points: Smooth with concentrated dark fruit, soft tannins and interesting tertiary flavors coming through. Really enjoyable bottle and worth waiting for. (1387 views) | | | Tasted by andrewshi on 12/31/2020 & rated 90 points: Mellow wine that opened up over an hour or so. Nice fruits with some hints of sweet and spice. (1175 views) | | | Tasted by mreinhard74@gmail.com on 6/28/2020 & rated 96 points: Has really developed into a sublime wine with the bottle age. Too bad this is my last bottle. Soft and supple dark fruits with cassis and vanilla. Just a touch of tannins to give some structure but doesn’t overwhelm. Really great wine. (1610 views) | | | Tasted by tominasia on 4/15/2020 & rated 92 points: Drinking beautifully right now. PnP rich dark fruit nose, well integrated tannins, secondary and tertiary flavors present and good balance. (1686 views) | | | Tasted by curtr on 12/3/2019 & rated 92 points: Decanted 1.5 hrs. Improved over next hour. now-2021. (2111 views) | | | Tasted by tominasia on 11/23/2019 & rated 91 points: No decant needed - popped and poured. Drinking very well now. (1595 views) | | | Tasted by curtr on 11/16/2019: A bit restrained until in glass 1.5 hrs. (1718 views) | | | Tasted by JHaslam on 8/12/2019 & rated 91 points: Had two bottles of this vintage at group blind tasting. Other bottle showed significantly better. (1766 views) | | | Tasted by CWilliam on 8/11/2019 & rated 93 points: Atlanta no-name Wine Tasting Group; 8/10/2019-8/11/2019 (BB House): Wine #1 in Blind Tasting - Domestic non-Napa Cab/Bordeaux blends. Tasted in pairs and then revealed.
Great nose - cassis, black cherry, tobacco and touch of bell pepper. On palate, savory, with cassis, tobacco and black cherry. Medium+ acidity, medium tannins and very long finish. Guessed this was my wine and I was correct - Wine #4 in the tasting was also an '07 Col Solare that tasted younger (more sweet cherry / cassis). 93+/- My WOTN. Got the most #1 votes by the group but an '04 Silver Oak Alexander Valley technically was the Group's WOTN. (1655 views) | | | Tasted by mreinhard74@gmail.com on 7/21/2019 & rated 94 points: Still seductive but seems to have lost a half step from the previous bottle. Tannins still grippy and fruit is giving way to tobacco and leather. Cab Franc is pushing through. A right bank homage. (1280 views) | | | Tasted by tominasia on 4/19/2019 & rated 91 points: This wine needs some time to open up, but is worth the wait. (1524 views) | | | Tasted by corkcellar on 2/17/2019 & rated 90 points: PnP, was a mistake. Started to come out of shell after first hour. Others in party really enjoyed - perhaps it was me who was off this night...
not a lot of bricking, holding up quite well. (1789 views) | | | Tasted by PSUSteve on 2/8/2019 & rated 92 points: PnP. Smooth and elegant with dark red fruit serving as the backbone. (1585 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| i-WineReview.com, Report 38: The Wines of Washington State (9/1/2013)
(Col Solare Col Solare Columbia Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Brook
Decanter, Expert's Choice: Washington (2/5/2013)
(Col Solare, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, November/December 2010, IWC Issue #153
(Col Solare Red Columbia Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Sean Sullivan
Washington Wine Report (9/30/2010)
(Col Solare Red Wine Columbia Valley) A thrilling nose with aromas of spice, vanilla, black cherry and licorice. Big and power packed on the palate with tightly wound fruit, beautifully integrated tannins, and silky oak flavors. A wine with a long life ahead of it. Best I have had from this winery. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Klipsun, Cold Creek, Andrews Horse Heaven, Weinbau, Hedges, Four Feathers, Stone Tree, and Coyote Canyon vineyards. Aged in 85% French and 15% American new oak barrels. 14.5% alcohol. ***** points | By Sean Sullivan
Washington Wine Report (8/27/2009)
(Col Solare Col Solare Columbia Valley) A quiet nose with a fair amount of vanilla and some banana notes along with other aromas of a young wine that still needs to settle down. On the taste, opens and expands, hangs and lingers. The best of the vintages sampled. 75% Cabernet; 20% Merlot; 5% Cabernet Franc. ***** points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of i-WineReview.com and Decanter and Vinous and Washington Wine Report. (manage subscription channels) |
| Col Solare Producer Website2007 Col Solare Producer FactsheetRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Columbia Valley Columbia Valley Winery Association |
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