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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.1 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 75 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Bin707LoversDetroit on 11/10/2023 & rated 94 points: Comes in like a PARTY! This party's been doing it since- and like it's- 1999! Pure, happy, vin excellence. Loud in the mouth, the event's ON!
Earthy, morning dew fields. Zero tannin bite. 100% smooth.
Wow! Is this the aging, or are all Col Solare's like this? This is our first experience w this vin. Wish we had a case of this joyous beauty.
So close to full body, opaque like a February night. Fall into this bricking black hole and take your time on the minutes-long finish, to snake your way out. Slither through the blackberries and dark cherries. Find your way to the taste buds of the Gods.
No wonder it's as smooth as a Brancaia Ilatraia Tuscan blend, it's born from Tuscany's Marchesi Antinori and Chateau Ste. Michelle... We're in!!!
A steal for the $50 we spent 4+ years back at Nino Salvaggio's cellar for this friend.
Delish!!!
Noroc! (503 views) | | | Tasted by oakville72 on 7/7/2023 & rated 94 points: Deep red but starting to brown. Mature yet still fresh nose showing plenty of fruit accented by generous oak. Flavors are long and rich, showing just a hint of VA. The only drawback is that it's a touch soft, as one would expect from Red Mountain fruit of this age. In terrific shape with still some tannins. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Syrah and 2% Malbec. 14.1% alcohol. (393 views) | | | Tasted by rice2002 on 1/22/2023 & rated 97 points: Cork was perfect and only penetrated 1/8th of an inch. Color was still bright despite being 24 years old. Minimal decant only to sieve out the sediments that have collected over all this time. Classic Col Solare! (637 views) | | | Tasted by JCGuthrie on 7/12/2019 & rated 91 points: No detailed notes. Drank before and with barbequed ribs, with which it paired reasonably well. Very solid wine, but was hoping for something a little more special. (1775 views) | | | Tasted by Vino&Whiskey on 4/14/2019 & rated 94 points: Still drinking well. More old world than new. Nicely balanced. (1779 views) | | | Tasted by Baron Slick on 12/31/2017 & rated 92 points: This articulates a lovely Old World sensibility. The dark fruit bouquet shows an edge of Jolly Ranchers and Hot Tamale candies. Savory and earthy, structured and complex, with just the right amount of fruit flavors that are complemented by beautiful bottle age. With perfect weight, density, and fine-grained tannin, this delivered on all fronts. No hurry, this is still drinking smashingly, gaining sweetness and depth in the glass. (2213 views) | | | Tasted by Neecies on 12/26/2016 & rated 92 points: Identical to the perfect Aug '14 bottle. These were built to last; beautifully mature but could hold here for years. (3493 views) | | | Tasted by iamandyc on 12/6/2015 & rated 88 points: Nice, lighter mid-week red that works with food. Red fruited and smooth, this is silky. Short finish. Pleasant but nothing to wow me or remember it. (4906 views) | | | Tasted by odds on 10/24/2015 flawed bottle: See previous notes- got four 'cooked' bottles via winebid.com
I requested a third opinion from an individual who has more col solare experience (someone who personally tasted every Col Solare since 1996 vintage) The response was 'suspected previous storage conditions'. The suspicion is that the wine was exposed to heat/'cook' conditions.
Thank you winebid.com :( Great inspection work; nothing makes me 'happier' than having four spoiled bottles. (4473 views) | | | Tasted by bob.welsh071@gmail.com on 10/16/2015 & rated 92 points: Opened tonight. The cork crumbled when I tried to open the bottle. Finally worked my way through it enough to make a small hole. Poured the bottle through a filter, aerator and into a decanter. The wine opened up nicely. Full of flavor, bright taste and smooth finish. Soft tannins. My guess is that the wine still has legs to cellar a few more years. (4570 views) | | | Tasted by odds on 10/10/2015 flawed bottle: EDITED: DEFECTIVE
Opened with the honest intention to enjoy a classic, aging WA wine for lunch with few friends and family. Opened, great floral. Currant and earthy notes. Ink/Brick purple on the color. All seems well.
Waited in the decanter, after an hour or so took a taste and realized
'not corked, but something is not right'. There was a long 'leftover' taste on the palate when you tasted it. Can't tell what exactly but felt alot like leftover wood or something else (maybe even metal?).
Called another opinion-- she tasted, and immediately repeated the same notes: it's not spoiled, but it is not standing where a 'col solare' should stand.
We waited few hours, and pulled something else for lunch. Coming back: similar findings. It seems either a bottle variation or something went wrong with the storage of the bottles (I got it in secondary market, and not stored all the years directly).
EDITED/FINAL DECISION:
It was not to the standards I learned to expect from a col solare. I've received another person's confirmation that it sounds off and changed the vote to 'flawed'. Set the wine aside not to drink I am going to question the source on the bottles storage.
Edited: I requested a third opinion from an individual who has more col solare experience (someone who personally tasted every Col Solare since 1996 vintage) The response was 'suspected previous storage conditions'. The suspicion is that the wine was exposed to heat/'cook' conditions.
I contacted the source of the purchase (via winebid.com) and informed them of the bottle conditions, and the fact that it was clearly suffering from heat damages. winebid.com refuse to refund the bottles, or look into the case. They agreed as a 'gesture' to return two of four bottles. So, I now have three 'cooked' 1999 bottles, courtesy of winebid.com detailed inspection of bottles. "great" job, winebid.com. I wonder why you refused to send a return slip to try the wines yourselves. (And give one bottle to the inspector who 'cleared' them for sale) (3949 views) | | | Tasted by rice2002 on 6/15/2015 & rated 88 points: It smells like black currant (cassis), blackberry, light toast, forest floor, fig, mineral and lead pencil. The wine looks inky colored. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. The cork pulled perfectly on this old bottle and color appeared brighter than I would have expected from something this old. Classic Col Solare! (2970 views) | | | Tasted by Neecies on 8/19/2014 & rated 92 points: Excellent for current drinking. Better than the bottle we had earlier this year, and from a different source. Is aging beautifully: perfectly middle aged and juxtaposing primary black fruit and tobacco notes against leather and an iron-rich minerality. Tannins and acid levels spot-on for further cellaring: drink or hold. (2623 views) | | | Tasted by Neecies on 3/6/2014 & rated 90 points: Excellent bottle. Peppery big berry fruit, less sweet than most WA cab blends for which we were grateful, with good secondary material from 14 years in the bottle and a European kind of acidity. A nice sipper that held up over two hours of drinking, even better with food. My first Col Solare and a nice surprise. (2900 views) | | | Tasted by iamandyc on 1/20/2014 & rated 87 points: Not overly impressed although good with food. High toned wine of sour red fruits. On the silky side with medium finish that highlighted the acidic content. Not bricked at all but not enough fruit left for the backbone. Not much in the way of secondary characteristics. (3061 views) | | | Tasted by Spl232 on 12/12/2013: from a split. past it's peak. just average. (2998 views) | | | Tasted by vanpe003 on 12/11/2011 & rated 91 points: Smoky red fruit, meat and some spices on the nose. Similar on the palate, with a brooding impression. I wouldn't have pegged this as Cabernet-dominated. Reminds me of some Right Banks. (5236 views) | | | Tasted by hdchappy on 11/28/2011: Dark and dense fruit, with pepper and licorice.
Had this wine over the weekend during a 5 person blind tasting against 4 other Bordeaux blends from WA, CA and France. The order of finish for this tasting was as follows 1) Corliss 2004 Red Wine, 2) 2003 Bond Matriach, 3) 2004 Grand Reve Collab I, 4) 1999 Col Solare and 5) 2005 La Fleur de Bouard, Lalande-Pomerol. I thought this wine would have performed better but I still love it! (4283 views) | | | Tasted by smithkev on 11/24/2011 & rated 91 points: Nice balance of tannins and spice. Solid blackberry on the tongue. Nice. (3874 views) | | | Tasted by Maz on 11/2/2011 & rated 92 points: Very enjoyable balanced wine with smooth but noticeable tannins, good fruit and a long finish. Has several more years left in it. (4232 views) | | | Tasted by hdchappy on 10/21/2011 & rated 94 points: Just popped and poured, already very good, so smooth and balanced. Going to let decant a few hours and will provide more info later. Has the chops to go at least another 5 years plus. Nice library pick up from Full Pull. (4015 views) | | | Tasted by devman on 9/3/2011: Still going strong after all these years. Still has plenty of Red Mountain tannin going on, with good acidity and fruit. It took a few hours of air to really come alive, but it came around. (2638 views) | | | Tasted by lesz on 4/11/2011 & rated 90 points: from a half bottle from the winery, very smooth tanins resolved, very enjoyable (2956 views) | | | Tasted by navybrat on 1/14/2011 & rated 91 points: This has really aged nicely: it was smooth, complex, long finish. Truly an outstanding value in my opinion. Wish I had more. (3232 views) | | | Tasted by boreddoughboy on 10/30/2010 & rated 89 points: Nose was full of body and led me to think this was gonna be a knockout, But its time has passed. It still has mature fruit but fades fast. I wish I knew her when....Maybe better in large format. Paired well with Italian at Dodici in Rockville Centre, NY. Still impressive but better drink up. (3407 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, September/October 2002, IWC Issue #104
(Col Solare Red Columbia Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Sean Sullivan
Washington Wine Report (5/20/2009)
(Col Solare Red Wine Columbia Valley) Dried flowers (lavender) and earth combine to produce a beautifully fragrant nose. A deep and rich taste with compact fruit and a tight core of tannins. The mid-palate is loaded with black licorice. Exceptional and not yet at its peak. 70% Cabernet; 25% Merlot; 3% Syrah; 2% Malbec. 14.4% alcohol. 7,000 cases produced. ***** points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and Washington Wine Report. (manage subscription channels) |
| Col Solare Producer WebsiteRed 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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