Community Tasting Notes 16

• James Kim Likes this wine:

  April 6, 2024 - Just brief impressions as I brought this to a party and didn't really get to focus on this. Decanted for 24h in wine fridge then back into bottle and brought to party. Even after 12h decant, it was sharp, acidic and almost vinegary. Started to even out and become more balanced at 24h decant. Later in the night, prob around 28h after decant, becomes more balanced with layers of apples, ?dried apricots, nuts, saline, maybe some iodine. It tastes like fino sherry made from chardonnay without any fortification, which is what it essentially is. Liked this once everything started to harmonize. - Made by Kevin Kelley from chardonnay from Charles Heintz Vineyard (35 yo vines)- essentially a fino type sherry with flor using solera method but with chardonnay. Solar was started in 2008 and contains 5 vintages. Bottled en rama style exclusively for Rare Wine Co.

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• Rico100 wrote: 93 points

  April 8, 2022 - Madeira like wine - different but quite good.

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• SteveG wrote: 91 points

  August 27, 2020 - Based on my previous note, this bottle must have been slightly darker, a bit of brassy gold, and also tarter, there is definitely some penetrating acidity beyond "zingy Hermitage". Still very tasty, just a little much for our roast chicken.

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• BillBell73 wrote:

  January 6, 2020 - This bottle was purchased in 2017. Very sharp aroma of apple cider vinegar is worrisome but the wine is still drinkable if definitely out on the far end of the spectrum. Sherried, aldehydic, similar to an orange wine...an interesting experience but not as great as it was upon release.

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• Beerzebub Likes this wine:

  July 19, 2019 - P&p, but filled a 500ml bottle to try tomorrow. Pretty vinegary aroma, but smells good; quite citrusy, like sour orange, with stone fruits, honey/flowers, savory walnut, tobacco, smoke, and caramel sorts of oxidative notes; terrific depth and complexity. Seems to have some skin contact character, but not as much as full on orange wine. Similar flavors, with stone fruit coming through more; nice round, fleshy texture, juxtaposed with almost searing acidity. Intense but with plenty of complexity/nuance. This is great! Looking forward to drinking the rest tomorrow.
  
  Day 2 (stored refrigerated): More together, with more fruit; less weird, but still plenty weird; drinking well, even better than day 1.
  
  Day 4: Just getting better, gaining both in intensity and finesse.
  
  (Note: Not sure which batch this is, but purchased directly from the producer [thanks Kevin!] in June 2017)

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Wine Definition

• Vintage N.V.
• Type White
• Producer Salinia
• Varietal Chardonnay
• Designation Wellspring Solera
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Sonoma County
• Appellation Sonoma Coast

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 114 (57%)
• Consumed 85 (43%)

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