Leans toward a European style, with strong acidity and minerality. Decanted for 90 minutes through a coffee filter, with a very light sediment removed.
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Solari is really a great wine, and I was excited to open this bottle. This is still a very structured wine and has many more years of life in it, but drinking really well now. Hits all the classic Napa cabernet notes.
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This is SO GOOD! In a perfect place right now (and, note, I doubt that there's much if any good evolution left in it). Generally PNP. It sat in a small decanter, but it was good on first pour. The bouquet was of light leather, darker red fruit and perhaps a touch of cedar. The taste was very settled, almost sublime cabernet. In other words, I think it can best be described as a classic cabernet, from a great vintage, that has been perfectly aged. Nicely done, Larkmead. Very happy that we have a few more bottles in our cellar.
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Pnp- had a mediciny or metal taste that was acidic. Slow ox for 3 hours: the metal taste disappeared - plums, dark fruit with a grip. Let remainder sit in open bottle all night - more pleasurable but no wow factor. Bought on release and stored at 57F - cork still moist and intact. Unimpressive for today's price point.
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A little tight on the open, but within an hour it was firing in all cylinders. Dark cherry with a slight hint of orange peel and a long smooth finish. Drank after the ‘13 estate cab and both were delicious, but the solari showed the advantage of age and the distinction of a single vineyard.
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We did a vertical with the 2008. Decanted both for about 30 minutes prior. The 2007 was lighter, almost Pinot like with pepper and hints of blackberry. It had a light tannin profile.
The wine tended to ruby colored with slow legs. There is light, fine sediment in the bottle. The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine had a medium finish.
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The ‘07 presented a truly seductive and mature display of dusty sweet spice, dried orange, crushed black cherry, and crushed stone. On the palate, I found smooth, silky textures, yet it was vibrant throughout, showing dark red and black fruits, with spice-infused tannins, in a sweet and sour, but also polished, display. The finish was long, with resonating minerality and inner florals, but also a slight twang of unruly acidity and only hints of lingering tannin. It’s hard not to like the ‘07, and even with its slightly sharp finish, it’s still firing on all cylinders.
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Cherry to the rim. Initially some Brett which dissipated after 30 minutes. Black fruits full with some initial tannins that softened after an hours decant. Velvet on the tongue with a long finish. Best showing for this wine and perhaps the best wine of the year or a close second to a spottswoode 2016. Am
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This is my 2nd of 3 bottles of this wine. Last tasted in 2013 (I gave it 91 pts). Tasted alongside a 2007 Paitin Barbaresco (the Barbaresco, at 1/3 the price, was preferred by all tasters) On the nose, burnt embers, a hint of volatile acidity (magic marker), black cherry pie, coffee grounds, and cinnamon. On the palate, juicy sweet plum and black cherry mixes with rich black currant fruits. Spice and a hint of bell pepper linger on the moderately long finish, with notes of fruit, charcoal, and mocha. Drink now through 2028+.
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From magnum. Needed about 90 minutes to open up and still had plenty of room to evolve after that. No hurry on this, at least in magnum, despite some expressing concern about 2007 Napa cabs not having the structure to go the distance.
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This is a stunning Napa Cabernet that has aged beautifully and is drinking near its peak. Ripe, structured, and classy, this wine has it all. I've come to believe that the Solari is the pinnacle of Larkmead's offerings, and this is easily the best Solari I've ever tasted. In fact, it's the best wine I've ever tasted to date.
Dark red in color, full in body, welcoming nose of ripe cherry, gravel, and graphite. Layered and nuanced tastes of boysenberry, dark chocolate, baking spices, and herbs, with dusty tannins and a hint of sweetness that make the finish go on and on. 14.7% alcohol. Blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. Like a David Ortiz walk-off home run, this wine runs the bases between the Old World and the New, on the way to proving that power and thickness can come in a grounded and graceful package.
If you will indulge me (and the third paragraph of a tasting note is, almost by definition, an indulgence), this wine offers a compelling definition of "integration" - a commonly used (and seldom-defined) word in wine. Here, the fruit, acidity, and tannin merge; the aromas, taste, and finish, too, are interwoven; it's ripe, earthy, and structured, all in one. No element sticks out; no piece gets left behind; each part enhances the other.
And now comes the anthropomorphism (because, hey, it's the fourth paragraph!): This wine doesn't have the exuberance of a precocious young talent who has potential and power, without realizing the value and responsibility of each. Instead, it's a wine that has matured, developed, and learned from its mistakes; it prepared, walked onto the stage, said its piece, and dropped the mic. In other words, it's not JFK; it's Lincoln. Wow.
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always a great wine this is just entering its drinking window. Great nose, good brightness for a ten year old wine. Blackberries and cigar like spice but overall I would say in the middle of a cali and french Bordeaux. Multi layered. Don't rush to drink this but if you must.......
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We drank this bottle with two other Larkmead club members and all of us loved it. Although we all agreed this wine had more than a few years of life in it, it's starting to hit its drinking window right now.
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full bodied Cabernet drinking wonderfully on its Anniversary Year. Rich deep color, balanced rich red fruit dark cherries and currant, soft notes of cedar, vanilla, nutmeg. Long finish soft tannins. Did not decant. 5-7 more years will go strong.
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Wow! It's December and this may be the best Cali Cab of the year? Almost as dark as a barrel sample. With a 3 hour decant this is gorgeous! Rich black currant, light oak with fantastic balance making this an absolutely lovely wine to consume.
It's funny, the regular larkmead '07 Napa Cab last week seemed to be in a dumb phase. This was so much more expressive and delicious
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Back for another bite of the apple or should I say blueberry? The tannins are still very present and this is a bold and strong representative from Northern Napa. It showed very well will against a '07 Sherwin Reserve and '10 Caymus SS. I know a weird line up but something for everyone. I love the Solari. It is a mature and full bodied curvy thing of beauty.
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Wow! This cabernet is now coming into its prime with its deep, rich, blackberry fruit. After drinking this 07 Solari over five years, I can appreciate how well Larkmead makes its wine to age. Wonderful secondary notes of cassis, mocha and milk chocolate. This is one terrific wine that might get even better.
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Red fruit? I usually get strong blue fruits out of Larkmead but this seems a little different. It is rich and full, but singing in a higher register than some others. The finish rolls on and on, tannins are fine and tight. This is only in the first hour - I'll try to resist drinking too fast to see what develops. It clearly has more years ahead of it than I will be able to wait to drink the next bottle (my last)...
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A little scary at first. These huge '07 Napa cabs were so delicious on release. Now, almost at almost ten years, it seemed a bit disjointed upon opening, but with 90 minutes of air this is again sweet and delicious and a bit more complexity than initial tasting 5 years ago. Nice wine. YFS
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After a 1 hour decant this is hitting on all cylinders. This came after an 07 Kapcsandy Grand Vin so it had a tough compare but while the wine was excellent I felt it lost a little since the last bottle from 7/15. It has a deep dark nose and palate of rich black fruit and mineral. Everything is integrated and the wine is clearly in it's drinking window but I think it's lost some of the depth and weight it had last year. It's somewhat one dimensional and almost a bit too much. It finishes with a slightly sweet note.
This is a great wine but my experience with the Larkmead 07's as well as many other 07's is to consume them within the next year or so.
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Some what tannic when first opened but smoothed out over the next hour. Would recommend an hour decant. Still purple to the rim with just a hint of dark fruits on the nose. Rich full bodied with a silky mouthfeel and huge fruit. Fills the mount and finishes long. Looks to be at the start of many years of wonderfully drinking. My best wine of the year so far.
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A great, great wine. Maybe it get better, but for our taste I think this has entered its prime drinking window. Dark fruits, just a hint of some secondary characteristics and a long, impeccably smooth finish. Tremendous.
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Wow, this is the real thing. Almost 8 years off the vine and still needing at least 5 more years to reach it's peak drinkability. Even after about an hour decant, still very much in it's "dumb" stage where the fruit refuses to surface. It is easy to project it's potential as some serious red raspberry attempts to break loose amid a sea of very young tannins and serious new French oak. The structure, character, and fruit that releases is tremendously focused with an elegance instead of power. Still raw oak and tannins needing more bottle age.
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Dark red and black fruits, flowers and currant on the nose. First sip is surprisingly smooth and silky. The tannins have melded into the background and the wine is juicy and pure cabernet. A 2 hour decant takes the wine from outstanding to extraordinary. Notes of black fruit, smokey bbq and mineral become more present. The mid palate and finish pick up considerably and it is now a wine that demands your attention. As you snap to you realize now the finish sails on for what seems like forever and you smile at what's in the glass and know that you were lucky enough this night to catch this wine at near perfection.
The 05 Solari and 07 Salon have been my all time favorites from Larkmead. I thought the 07 Solari had great potential if the tannins would calm down. Well they have and I was really surprised at how good this was at pnp. The 2 hour decant shows this is just starting to show it's full potential and enter it's prime drinking window. I think this could still improve a notch or 2 and reach perfection.
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Dark fruits, blackberry, hint of tobacco and vanilla. Drank after open but should have decanted. Tight tannins that opened in the glass. Let this one sit another 2-3 years.
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Very, very good, but I think (hope?) it's a couple of years away from really hitting its stride. Pulled the cork and let it rest for about 2 hours before pouring. Dark fruits, developing some secondary characteristics, but still a little tight and I felt like the alcohol was peeking through a bit too much. As C said, go big or go home. I think that's right with this one! Will wait another couple yrs on the next bottle.
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This was oustanding. Blockbuster napa cab which stood head and shoulders above the rest of the wines last night. Tobacco, black currants, licorice and anise. Big bold and sophisticated. Amazing finish and outstanding napa cab.
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This Cab has gained more weight over the last year and has more distinct dark fruit. However, you must decant for two hours in order for the tannins to calm and get a smooth silky finish. Despite the increase weight, this Solari Reserve is restrained and more medium to heavy weight. Expect this wine to evolve even further over the next five years.
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In a great place right now. When I popped the cork, the room filled with a luscious, fruity aroma. In the glass, that persisted with a palate of black fruits, some earthiness and very smooth tannins. Unfortunately, this was my last bottle!
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2 hr decant. Vibrant expressive nose of blackberry, black currant, violets, sandalwood and smoke. Silky palate of black fruits, plums, tobacco, vanilla bean with slight herbal notes. Really well balanced and seamless, something I haven't seen in the majority of 07 cabs. Moderate tannins and lingering finish.
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It had a nice chocolatey-purple color and good aromatic levels. I found some cassis, juniper berry, a subtle bordeaux smokiness on a ripe frame that was very temperature sensitive, a few degrees to warm or too cold made it too ripe and flat or restrained and ethanolic, respectively. The tannins were a little dusty and a little prickly, overall very nice. On night too, it showed softer tannins and more juniper berry and cedar notes in its profile.
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This wine was decanted 3 hrs, then enjoyed over 2 hrs at a steak grill out. 90% Cabernet, 10% Petit Verdot. Still med purple at the core, gently fading to light purple at the rim. Extracted color in the legs. New world baby. The nose is developing, showing med intensity aromas of charcoal, black currant, black cherry, tar, and wet earth. Smells great. The palate shows a dry wine, full in body and med+/high in alcohol (14.7% listed abv), with med intensity flavors of black cherry liquor, camphor, graphite, and black currant. The acidity is med+, and the tannins are med+ as well, quite firm and persistent, showing a gently rounding lushness over a few hours. The finish is med in length, black fruited, with tar and tobacco notes. This is a very good quality wine, just now entering its drinking window. I would say it will continue to improve for 10 more years with bottle age, and drink well through 2030.
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Fantastic wine. Decanted for 30 minutes and then paired with ribeye. Wow! The nose was almost intoxicating by itself, and the mid-palate fruit notes of currant, cassis and black cherry made me eat my steak even faster. For my money, this is what California Cabernet is all about.
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This is a terrific wine that likely will be outstanding in the next few years, but despite 3 hours of decanting the deep, rich fruit and finish one expects from a Larkmead Solari isn't quite there. However, for perspective, this is still one amazing wine today with complex currant, nice dark fruit that is wonderfully balanced and smooth. Thankfully, I have many more that will stay in my cellar for a while.
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This is a powerful wine that will need some time to uncoil. The tasting was a tale of 2 wines. Red fruit, almost strawberry present on night one with no decant with the dark fruit really showing up on the 2nd night. Licorice, tobacco and blackberry. I have a few bottles that will continue to slumber or be a guaranteed off the bench hit if called upon for years to come. Great winery and Cab line up and often overlooked.
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Nose of mocha, burnt raspberries and cedar. Chocolate and dark fruit with a finish of wood. Vanilla is also present on the finish. Long finish. Well integrated
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This was really nice, but I think has the potential to be amazing in a few more years. Much darker fruit than their regular cab offering. Enjoyable now, but will try and wait a couple of years before opening the next bottle.
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Still seems too early to formally rate, this wine has big potential and is delicious now, but tasted amongst more mature cabernets, it seemed a bit more one-dimensional. I know there is greatness hiding here and I believe it will come out soon. In the meanwhile, this is a luscious cab with great cassis, a glycerin mouthfeel, and notes of graphite and mineral.
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Fantastic. Deep and dark color- the taste was also darker than the regular cab- dark fruit, minerals, ashes. Missed spending time with the nose- nice but can't recall the component aromas--a pity.
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Classy, and refined. Supple fruit, but not a big impact on the palate. Don't see a reason to hold this, though there's a chance it's in the proverbial "dumb phase", but anyway not dumb enough to not enjoy now.
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Tasted at winery. Drinking younger and a little out of balance compared to the estate cabs. Still, the stuffing is evident and there's tons of berries, currant and slate notes. Could use at least ten years. Not sure I'd splurge at this price.
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I love this producer. Found this wine too young. Pop and pour. Not sure if it needed a decant or a year or two. Not as dark and dusty or as pure in fruit as other 2007s. Definitely leaving other two to sleep awhile.
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This was decanted 2 hours prior to drinking. When first decanted, it had a strong aroma of black cherries that diminished over the two hours. The flavor was very good - cherries, acid, earth, and some young tannins. This should improve with some age, and should probably not be decanted for that long a period.
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11/21/2021 - Jaws4096 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Leans toward a European style, with strong acidity and minerality. Decanted for 90 minutes through a coffee filter, with a very light sediment removed.
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8/14/2021 - B&T wrote:
Took about 3 hours to open up in a decanter.
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8/13/2021 - wirelesswine wrote: 95 Points
Solari is really a great wine, and I was excited to open this bottle. This is still a very structured wine and has many more years of life in it, but drinking really well now. Hits all the classic Napa cabernet notes.
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7/3/2021 - kennyd Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ever so slight degradation from how I recall the last bottle that we had in December 2020, so one point lower. BUT, still really good.
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12/24/2020 - kennyd Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is SO GOOD! In a perfect place right now (and, note, I doubt that there's much if any good evolution left in it). Generally PNP. It sat in a small decanter, but it was good on first pour. The bouquet was of light leather, darker red fruit and perhaps a touch of cedar. The taste was very settled, almost sublime cabernet. In other words, I think it can best be described as a classic cabernet, from a great vintage, that has been perfectly aged. Nicely done, Larkmead. Very happy that we have a few more bottles in our cellar.
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12/12/2020 - Elkcims wrote: 93 Points
Pnp- had a mediciny or metal taste that was acidic. Slow ox for 3 hours: the metal taste disappeared - plums, dark fruit with a grip. Let remainder sit in open bottle all night - more pleasurable but no wow factor. Bought on release and stored at 57F - cork still moist and intact. Unimpressive for today's price point.
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8/29/2020 - uflaw Likes this wine: 94 Points
A little tight on the open, but within an hour it was firing in all cylinders. Dark cherry with a slight hint of orange peel and a long smooth finish. Drank after the ‘13 estate cab and both were delicious, but the solari showed the advantage of age and the distinction of a single vineyard.
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2/24/2020 - Wine Boy Likes this wine: 93 Points
We did a vertical with the 2008. Decanted both for about 30 minutes prior. The 2007 was lighter, almost Pinot like with pepper and hints of blackberry. It had a light tannin profile.
The wine tended to ruby colored with slow legs. There is light, fine sediment in the bottle. The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine had a medium finish.
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1/21/2020 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
The ‘07 presented a truly seductive and mature display of dusty sweet spice, dried orange, crushed black cherry, and crushed stone. On the palate, I found smooth, silky textures, yet it was vibrant throughout, showing dark red and black fruits, with spice-infused tannins, in a sweet and sour, but also polished, display. The finish was long, with resonating minerality and inner florals, but also a slight twang of unruly acidity and only hints of lingering tannin. It’s hard not to like the ‘07, and even with its slightly sharp finish, it’s still firing on all cylinders.
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11/28/2019 - aatherton wrote: 85 Points
Very disappointing. All treble, no bass. no richness or body. Complex acid. That’s really it. Didn’t taste flawed, but must have been.
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10/27/2019 - bobh22314 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Cherry to the rim. Initially some Brett which dissipated after 30 minutes. Black fruits full with some initial tannins that softened after an hours decant. Velvet on the tongue with a long finish. Best showing for this wine and perhaps the best wine of the year or a close second to a spottswoode 2016. Am
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9/6/2019 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
This is my 2nd of 3 bottles of this wine. Last tasted in 2013 (I gave it 91 pts).
Tasted alongside a 2007 Paitin Barbaresco (the Barbaresco, at 1/3 the price, was preferred by all tasters)
On the nose, burnt embers, a hint of volatile acidity (magic marker), black cherry pie, coffee grounds, and cinnamon.
On the palate, juicy sweet plum and black cherry mixes with rich black currant fruits.
Spice and a hint of bell pepper linger on the moderately long finish, with notes of fruit, charcoal, and mocha.
Drink now through 2028+.
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5/21/2019 - EMTAME wrote: 92 Points
From magnum. Needed about 90 minutes to open up and still had plenty of room to evolve after that. No hurry on this, at least in magnum, despite some expressing concern about 2007 Napa cabs not having the structure to go the distance.
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10/24/2018 - bobh22314 Likes this wine: 98 Points
started same as two years ago purple to the rim black fruits and minerals
After an hour lush full huge fruit and considerably softer than when fist opened still some tannins to resolve so several years to go
Long long finish. Best wine of the year
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2/19/2018 - msuwine wrote: 99 Points
This is a stunning Napa Cabernet that has aged beautifully and is drinking near its peak. Ripe, structured, and classy, this wine has it all. I've come to believe that the Solari is the pinnacle of Larkmead's offerings, and this is easily the best Solari I've ever tasted. In fact, it's the best wine I've ever tasted to date.
Dark red in color, full in body, welcoming nose of ripe cherry, gravel, and graphite. Layered and nuanced tastes of boysenberry, dark chocolate, baking spices, and herbs, with dusty tannins and a hint of sweetness that make the finish go on and on. 14.7% alcohol. Blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. Like a David Ortiz walk-off home run, this wine runs the bases between the Old World and the New, on the way to proving that power and thickness can come in a grounded and graceful package.
If you will indulge me (and the third paragraph of a tasting note is, almost by definition, an indulgence), this wine offers a compelling definition of "integration" - a commonly used (and seldom-defined) word in wine. Here, the fruit, acidity, and tannin merge; the aromas, taste, and finish, too, are interwoven; it's ripe, earthy, and structured, all in one. No element sticks out; no piece gets left behind; each part enhances the other.
And now comes the anthropomorphism (because, hey, it's the fourth paragraph!): This wine doesn't have the exuberance of a precocious young talent who has potential and power, without realizing the value and responsibility of each. Instead, it's a wine that has matured, developed, and learned from its mistakes; it prepared, walked onto the stage, said its piece, and dropped the mic. In other words, it's not JFK; it's Lincoln. Wow.
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2/3/2018 - Skip4wine wrote: 95 Points
always a great wine this is just entering its drinking window. Great nose, good brightness for a ten year old wine. Blackberries and cigar like spice but overall I would say in the middle of a cali and french Bordeaux. Multi layered. Don't rush to drink this but if you must.......
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12/31/2017 - Jim B Likes this wine: 94 Points
drank with 5 07s, Firebelle, lark cab, Frank cab, Pride cab, Solari
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6/15/2017 - George Lopez Likes this wine: 96 Points
We drank this bottle with two other Larkmead club members and all of us loved it. Although we all agreed this wine had more than a few years of life in it, it's starting to hit its drinking window right now.
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1/14/2017 - The Wine Guy Likes this wine: 93 Points
full bodied Cabernet drinking wonderfully on its Anniversary Year. Rich deep color, balanced rich red fruit dark cherries and currant, soft notes of cedar, vanilla, nutmeg. Long finish soft tannins. Did not decant. 5-7 more years will go strong.
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12/25/2016 - ginfizz wrote: 94 Points
My kind of wine. Dark, brooding cassis and boysenberry, great balance, heavy side of medium bodied and a long finish. Bravo.
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12/4/2016 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Wow! It's December and this may be the best Cali Cab of the year?
Almost as dark as a barrel sample. With a 3 hour decant this is gorgeous! Rich black currant, light oak with fantastic balance making this an absolutely lovely wine to consume.
It's funny, the regular larkmead '07 Napa Cab last week seemed to be in a dumb phase. This was so much more expressive and delicious
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11/24/2016 - MLwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes but then really opened up about an hour or so after that. A three-hour decant would be terrific.
Well-balanced and smooth, with a hint of complexity (although there could be more). Very enjoyable and should last another decade or so.
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9/30/2016 - Nycsfo wrote:
To celebrate life, the decision to leave Burlingame in 2020!
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8/3/2016 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 95 Points
2007 Vintage: Napa Valley vs. Washington State (Lincoln Squre Steaks, Amsterdam Ave, New York City): My last bottle, and while it might improve with age, it was outstanding. Still plenty of youthful fruit, but not in an overpowering way. Long finish. Great nose, and loaded with the black fruit flavors of blackberries. As soon as we poured this, the group commented on the amazing aromas.
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7/20/2016 - Vitis Maximus Likes this wine: 94 Points
Back for another bite of the apple or should I say blueberry? The tannins are still very present and this is a bold and strong representative from Northern Napa. It showed very well will against a '07 Sherwin Reserve and '10 Caymus SS. I know a weird line up but something for everyone. I love the Solari. It is a mature and full bodied curvy thing of beauty.
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7/2/2016 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow! This cabernet is now coming into its prime with its deep, rich, blackberry fruit. After drinking this 07 Solari over five years, I can appreciate how well Larkmead makes its wine to age. Wonderful secondary notes of cassis, mocha and milk chocolate. This is one terrific wine that might get even better.
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7/1/2016 - Buffy the Wine Slayer wrote: 95 Points
Red fruit? I usually get strong blue fruits out of Larkmead but this seems a little different. It is rich and full, but singing in a higher register than some others. The finish rolls on and on, tannins are fine and tight. This is only in the first hour - I'll try to resist drinking too fast to see what develops. It clearly has more years ahead of it than I will be able to wait to drink the next bottle (my last)...
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6/8/2016 - cos65 Likes this wine:
A little scary at first. These huge '07 Napa cabs were so delicious on release. Now, almost at almost ten years, it seemed a bit disjointed upon opening, but with 90 minutes of air this is again sweet and delicious and a bit more complexity than initial tasting 5 years ago. Nice wine. YFS
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5/25/2016 - fdaner wrote: 94 Points
After a 1 hour decant this is hitting on all cylinders. This came after an 07 Kapcsandy Grand Vin so it had a tough compare but while the wine was excellent I felt it lost a little since the last bottle from 7/15. It has a deep dark nose and palate of rich black fruit and mineral. Everything is integrated and the wine is clearly in it's drinking window but I think it's lost some of the depth and weight it had last year. It's somewhat one dimensional and almost a bit too much. It finishes with a slightly sweet note.
This is a great wine but my experience with the Larkmead 07's as well as many other 07's is to consume them within the next year or so.
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4/25/2016 - bobh22314 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Some what tannic when first opened but smoothed out over the next hour.
Would recommend an hour decant.
Still purple to the rim with just a hint of dark fruits on the nose. Rich full bodied with a silky mouthfeel and huge fruit. Fills the mount and finishes long.
Looks to be at the start of many years of wonderfully drinking.
My best wine of the year so far.
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4/8/2016 - domco wrote:
A great, great wine. Maybe it get better, but for our taste I think this has entered its prime drinking window. Dark fruits, just a hint of some secondary characteristics and a long, impeccably smooth finish. Tremendous.
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7/20/2015 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 92 Points
Wow, this is the real thing. Almost 8 years off the vine and still needing at least 5 more years to reach it's peak drinkability. Even after about an hour decant, still very much in it's "dumb" stage where the fruit refuses to surface. It is easy to project it's potential as some serious red raspberry attempts to break loose amid a sea of very young tannins and serious new French oak. The structure, character, and fruit that releases is tremendously focused with an elegance instead of power. Still raw oak and tannins needing more bottle age.
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7/8/2015 - fdaner wrote: 98 Points
Dark red and black fruits, flowers and currant on the nose. First sip is surprisingly smooth and silky. The tannins have melded into the background and the wine is juicy and pure cabernet. A 2 hour decant takes the wine from outstanding to extraordinary. Notes of black fruit, smokey bbq and mineral become more present. The mid palate and finish pick up considerably and it is now a wine that demands your attention. As you snap to you realize now the finish sails on for what seems like forever and you smile at what's in the glass and know that you were lucky enough this night to catch this wine at near perfection.
The 05 Solari and 07 Salon have been my all time favorites from Larkmead. I thought the 07 Solari had great potential if the tannins would calm down. Well they have and I was really surprised at how good this was at pnp. The 2 hour decant shows this is just starting to show it's full potential and enter it's prime drinking window. I think this could still improve a notch or 2 and reach perfection.
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5/10/2015 - domco wrote:
Seems to be hitting it's stride, great with homemade pizzas for Mother's day. C says 'delicious, liquid velvet'. 'nuf said
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4/5/2015 - vanpe003 wrote: 94 Points
No detailed notes. Consumed in a casual Easter dinner setting. Rich, smooth, balanced, no rough edges.
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1/1/2015 - Calhounmi wrote: 90 Points
Dark fruits, blackberry, hint of tobacco and vanilla. Drank after open but should have decanted. Tight tannins that opened in the glass. Let this one sit another 2-3 years.
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9/22/2014 - domco wrote:
Very, very good, but I think (hope?) it's a couple of years away from really hitting its stride. Pulled the cork and let it rest for about 2 hours before pouring. Dark fruits, developing some secondary characteristics, but still a little tight and I felt like the alcohol was peeking through a bit too much. As C said, go big or go home. I think that's right with this one! Will wait another couple yrs on the next bottle.
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7/28/2014 - sterin wrote: 94 Points
Great wine...just starting to enter its drinking window.
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5/4/2014 - JDV.DDSPHD Likes this wine: 95 Points
This was oustanding. Blockbuster napa cab which stood head and shoulders above the rest of the wines last night. Tobacco, black currants, licorice and anise. Big bold and sophisticated. Amazing finish and outstanding napa cab.
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2/14/2014 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 93 Points
This Cab has gained more weight over the last year and has more distinct dark fruit. However, you must decant for two hours in order for the tannins to calm and get a smooth silky finish. Despite the increase weight, this Solari Reserve is restrained and more medium to heavy weight. Expect this wine to evolve even further over the next five years.
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1/16/2014 - BobMilton Likes this wine: 95 Points
In a great place right now. When I popped the cork, the room filled with a luscious, fruity aroma. In the glass, that persisted with a palate of black fruits, some earthiness and very smooth tannins. Unfortunately, this was my last bottle!
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1/4/2014 - Dasher wrote: 95 Points
drank over 3 days. It upend up very nice.
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8/22/2013 - bobpsi Likes this wine:
2 hr decant. Vibrant expressive nose of blackberry, black currant, violets, sandalwood and smoke. Silky palate of black fruits, plums, tobacco, vanilla bean with slight herbal notes. Really well balanced and seamless, something I haven't seen in the majority of 07 cabs. Moderate tannins and lingering finish.
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7/24/2013 - Roentgen Ray Likes this wine: 94 Points
It had a nice chocolatey-purple color and good aromatic levels. I found some cassis, juniper berry, a subtle bordeaux smokiness on a ripe frame that was very temperature sensitive, a few degrees to warm or too cold made it too ripe and flat or restrained and ethanolic, respectively. The tannins were a little dusty and a little prickly, overall very nice. On night too, it showed softer tannins and more juniper berry and cedar notes in its profile.
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6/19/2013 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
This wine was decanted 3 hrs, then enjoyed over 2 hrs at a steak grill out. 90% Cabernet, 10% Petit Verdot.
Still med purple at the core, gently fading to light purple at the rim. Extracted color in the legs. New world baby.
The nose is developing, showing med intensity aromas of charcoal, black currant, black cherry, tar, and wet earth. Smells great.
The palate shows a dry wine, full in body and med+/high in alcohol (14.7% listed abv), with med intensity flavors of black cherry liquor, camphor, graphite, and black currant. The acidity is med+, and the tannins are med+ as well, quite firm and persistent, showing a gently rounding lushness over a few hours. The finish is med in length, black fruited, with tar and tobacco notes.
This is a very good quality wine, just now entering its drinking window. I would say it will continue to improve for 10 more years with bottle age, and drink well through 2030.
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1/6/2013 - George Lopez Likes this wine: 96 Points
Fantastic wine. Decanted for 30 minutes and then paired with ribeye. Wow! The nose was almost intoxicating by itself, and the mid-palate fruit notes of currant, cassis and black cherry made me eat my steak even faster. For my money, this is what California Cabernet is all about.
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1/1/2013 - CLOrta wrote: 96 Points
Perfect NYE wine was balanced with spices, vanilla and deep rich fruit. Very drink ready but will only get better with age.
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12/1/2012 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is a terrific wine that likely will be outstanding in the next few years, but despite 3 hours of decanting the deep, rich fruit and finish one expects from a Larkmead Solari isn't quite there. However, for perspective, this is still one amazing wine today with complex currant, nice dark fruit that is wonderfully balanced and smooth. Thankfully, I have many more that will stay in my cellar for a while.
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10/17/2012 - Vitis Maximus wrote: 93 Points
This is a powerful wine that will need some time to uncoil. The tasting was a tale of 2 wines. Red fruit, almost strawberry present on night one with no decant with the dark fruit really showing up on the 2nd night. Licorice, tobacco and blackberry. I have a few bottles that will continue to slumber or be a guaranteed off the bench hit if called upon for years to come. Great winery and Cab line up and often overlooked.
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4/7/2012 - lewisrise wrote: 96 Points
Nose of mocha, burnt raspberries and cedar. Chocolate and dark fruit with a finish of wood. Vanilla is also present on the finish. Long finish. Well integrated
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2/6/2012 - domco wrote: 93 Points
This was really nice, but I think has the potential to be amazing in a few more years. Much darker fruit than their regular cab offering. Enjoyable now, but will try and wait a couple of years before opening the next bottle.
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12/30/2011 - wirelesswine wrote:
Still seems too early to formally rate, this wine has big potential and is delicious now, but tasted amongst more mature cabernets, it seemed a bit more one-dimensional. I know there is greatness hiding here and I believe it will come out soon. In the meanwhile, this is a luscious cab with great cassis, a glycerin mouthfeel, and notes of graphite and mineral.
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11/20/2011 - Buffy the Wine Slayer wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic. Deep and dark color- the taste was also darker than the regular cab- dark fruit, minerals, ashes. Missed spending time with the nose- nice but can't recall the component aromas--a pity.
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11/14/2011 - Robert Pavlovich wrote: 91 Points
Classy, and refined. Supple fruit, but not a big impact on the palate. Don't see a reason to hold this, though there's a chance it's in the proverbial "dumb phase", but anyway not dumb enough to not enjoy now.
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6/19/2011 - pete s. wrote:
Tasted at winery. Drinking younger and a little out of balance compared to the estate cabs. Still, the stuffing is evident and there's tons of berries, currant and slate notes. Could use at least ten years. Not sure I'd splurge at this price.
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3/15/2011 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 92 Points
Solid Napa cab here. Power without Jam. Good fruit. Definitely young, needs sideways time... not decanting.
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1/4/2011 - jaylew1 wrote: 91 Points
I love this producer. Found this wine too young. Pop and pour. Not sure if it needed a decant or a year or two. Not as dark and dusty or as pure in fruit as other 2007s. Definitely leaving other two to sleep awhile.
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12/25/2010 - BobMilton Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was decanted 2 hours prior to drinking. When first decanted, it had a strong aroma of black cherries that diminished over the two hours. The flavor was very good - cherries, acid, earth, and some young tannins. This should improve with some age, and should probably not be decanted for that long a period.
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