Larkmead Vineyards Solari

The pinnacle of power, this wine is consistently the most complete and persistent on the palate, broad in both force and length. This intensity is the result of great vine balance and soil profile (both Cortina and Pleasanton) that isn’t found anywhere else on the estate.

Winery: Larkmead Vineyards
Appellation: Napa Valley
Average age of vines: 28 years
Farming Methods: Organic
Maturation: French oak aging; 21 months, 75% new
Soil: Cortina (Gravel),
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard Orientation: NE-SE
Vineyard Size: 15 Hectares

Wine	Scores	Downloads
Larkmead Vineyards Solari 2018	95 Wine Spectator Supersleek in feel, with a very precisely cut swath of cassis, bitter cherry and raspberry coulis notes coursing through, supported with sanguine and iron details and a flash of savory at the end. Restrained, refined and very long. 94 Wine Advocate Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari (Black Label) was aged in French oak, 92% new. It sports a deep garnet-purple color and fragrant notions of boysenberries, black and red cherry preserves and black currant pastilles with hints of garrigue, sautéed herbs and tobacco leaf plus a waft of charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is elegant and refreshing, features a racy backbone and has finely grained tannins that support the intense red and black fruits, finishing with refreshing herbal lift. 1,238 cases were made. 94 Vinous The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari is laced with the essence of wild cherry, tobacco, licorice, and a whole range of earthy savory notes. Dark and inward, but medium in body, the 2018 is a bit tightly wound today. I would give it a few years to soften. like all the 2018s at Larkmead, the Solari is a wine of transparency and nuance. Its resonance is more implied than overly stated.	Bottle Image Label Image Shelf Talker Tech Sheet
Larkmead Vineyards Solari 2019	97 Decanter Crafted by winemaker Dan Petroski, who passed the torch to Avery Heelan in 2021. This was aged 18 months in mostly new French oak. Tremendously savoury and alluring aromas of black olive, baked clay, garrigue and brown scorched earth. Silken layers of blackberry, juicy plums and red currants find espresso beans and a lively vein of blood orange-like acidity. Perfectly integrated tannins that are fine-grained and precise. All built to a lavender-tinged finish. From Napa Green Certified vines. 94 Wine Spectator Leads with lively sweet bay leaf and sassafras notes, followed quickly by silky-textured yet broad cassis and plum reduction flavors. The finish is enhanced by a late tug of loam and a curl of alder smoke. Shows some sneaky, latent depth. Best from 2024 through 2038. 1,115 cases made.	Bottle Image Label Image Shelf Talker Tech Sheet
Larkmead Vineyards Solari 2021	93-96 Vinous The 2021 Solari is the first vintage that has now been reimagined as a selection of the best lots in the cellar. Dark cherry, plum, espresso, menthol, licorice and cloves are build in a statuesque, deep Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon. This is very promising, but it will need time. 94 Wine Advocate Larkmead’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari (Black Label) is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from mostly older vines. Black cherries, licorice, spice box and mocha scents all emerge on the nose, followed by a medium to full-bodied palate that’s dense and concentrated, with a long, velvety-tannic finish. It should drink well for up to two decades. 94 Wine Spectator Perfumed and seductive, with a mix of steeped black cherry, raspberry and red currant coulis flavors infused with black tea, singed sandalwood and warm earth through the finish. Offers a nice fleshy edge, though this remains reserved and silky overall. Drink now through 2038. 1,202 cases made.	Bottle Image Label Image Shelf Talker Tech Sheet