Soliste Cellars Tasting

Santa Rosa
Tasted Saturday, May 10, 2014 by AllRed with 588 views

Introduction

Our final stop of the day found us just around the corner from Ceritas, where we met Don Plumley. After a brief introduction and background on Soliste, Don took us inside for some barrel samples. Following the barrel sampling, Don took us back outside to a picnic table and opened a few bottles for us to sip on while we talked and enjoyed some salumi. We had a great time visiting with Don and here again, the wines are truly special.

Flight 1 - Barrel samples (8 Notes)

  • 2013 Soliste Cellars Sauvignon Blanc St Andelain 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Barrel sample. Notes of citrus and tropical fruit with a subtle grassy undertone. The palate is rich in terms of fruit- mostly tropical- but maintains a great acidity that keeps it very lively and focused. Has a mineral edge to the finish. Lovely.

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  • 2013 Soliste Cellars Chardonnay L'Age D'Or 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Barrel sample. Aromas of green apple, vanilla crème, crushed stones and honeysuckle blossoms. Wonderful texture on the palate with flavors mirroring the bouquet. Mineral and citrus qualities on the lengthy finish. 93-94 pts.

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  • 2013 Soliste Cellars Pinot Noir L'Ésperance 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Barrel sample. Made from Dijon 115 clone displaying a dark ruby color. Notes of black cherry, vanilla, spice, clove and perhaps sandalwood; nice complexity and depth. Flavors of pine, cherry, spice and licorice. Lighter; elegant- a style I very much enjoy. 93+ pts.

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  • 2013 Soliste Cellars Pinot Noir Sonatera Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Barrel sample. Dijon 777 clone. Darker color than the previous wines with perfumed florals, cherry, red fruit and evergreen tree aromas. The palate has a "rustic" earthy pine needle quality that I really enjoy, as well as cherry and red fruit. Spice accents bring complexity to the long finish.

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  • 2013 Soliste Cellars Pinot Noir Foret 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Barrel sample. Clone 23 from a vineyard near Occidental. The bouquet shows candied cherry fruit with spice, pine needle and white currant tones as well. The palate has an abundance of spice with a pepper note on the finish. Cherry and red fruit tones with good structure and balance; loads of spice. Not as perfumed or elegant as the previous wines. 91-92 pts.

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  • 2013 Soliste Cellars Pinot Noir Nouveau Monde 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Barrel sample. Pommard clone. Aromas of clay and earth over the red fruit and cherry notes. This shows some really pure, lovely fruit with subtle spice and earth notes adding depth but always in the background. The bright cherry fruit is the star here. Finishes very well. 92-93 pts.

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  • 2013 Soliste Cellars Pinot Noir L'Ambroisie 94 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Barrel sample. Clone 828, from the same vineyard as the Foret (Clone 23). I am immediately in love with this as the first thing I notice is a wonderful floral overtone featuring violets and wild phlox notes along with black cherry, currants and perhaps even some blue fruit. This is very perfumed and florally- very feminine and elegant. The palate is structured- appropriately so for the abundant fruit- black cherry and red fruits, as well as florals, subtle spice qualities and a wonderful underlying minerality that lingers on the finish. Lovely. 94+ pts.

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  • 2012 Soliste Cellars Syrah Out of the Shadows 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    Barrel sample. Aromas of dark fruits with a meaty/bacony undertone, white pepper and perhaps even a hint of chocolate, then pine and evergreen notes. Tannins are firm and slightly chewy. Flavors of blackberry and dark fruit with a nice spicy/peppery note too. Lengthy finish. Definitely new world Syrah, but with Cote Rotie sensibilities. Count me as a fan of this. 93-94 pts.

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Flight 2 - Finished wines (3 Notes)

  • 2012 Soliste Cellars Pinot Noir Soleil Rouge 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Lovely coral pink color. Half is press wine, the other is saignée method. Cherry, strawberry and white currants with a nice perfumed floral undertone. Flavors of red berries, melon and stone fruit.

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  • 2010 Soliste Cellars Chardonnay L'Age D'Or 95 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Yellow with a greenish tint. 30% undergoes malolactic fermentation. Opens with citrus and lemon oil notes, followed by almond, Murphy's oil, sautéed apple and wet stone aromas. Develops spice and honeysuckle notes as it opens. Rich texture- almost Rhone-like in its weight and body- featuring flavors of lemon oil, pear, melon, spice and lanolin. Lon, rich finish. Stunning in terms of its richness, depth and balance.

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  • 2011 Soliste Cellars Pinot Noir Foret 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Clone 23. Ruby color. Aromas of cherries, red berries, clay, florals and sous bois. Red fruit, cherry, licorice, cinnamon and spice flavors. Long finish; well-balanced. Lovely.

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