Larkmead Vineyards Solari 2018
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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.
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.
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.
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Larkmead Vineyards Solari 2019
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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.
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.
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Larkmead Vineyards Solari 2021
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96
Jeb Dunnuck
The flagship 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari comes from older vines and is raised primarily in new barrels. It’s notably darker hued compared to the classic Cabernet Sauvignon release and has a darker profile of ripe blackcurrants, red plums, leather, savory herbs, and scorched earth. This carries to a medium to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that shows the more restrained, focused style of the estate, with good concentration, ripe tannins, and outstanding length, along with a kiss of salinity on the finish. There’s not much baby fat, but it has beautiful mid-palate depth, ripe, polished, building tannins, integrated acidity, and I think it’s going to age beautifully. Hide bottles for 4-6 years, and it’s going to evolve gracefully through 2046.
This distinctive and sophisticated 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is attractive, delicious and built to age. Aromas of freshly roasted coffee cascade into flavors of violet and sweet plum sprinkled with spiced cocoa. The tannins are persistent and velvety carrying into a long finish. Well done.
Lifted and bright, revealing crunchy red-skinned fruit aromatics intermixed with purple florals, cedarwood and a subtle spearmint pop. Beautifully plump fruit introduces a medium-bodied red and possesses an absolute purity of fruit flavours that run from raspberry and cherry to pomegranate and spiced plums interlaced with brown baking spices such as cardamon and nuanced by sandalwood notes. The tannins are substantial, taut, mineral-laced, and well-integrated at this early stage. They have a commanding presence and, with some air, can be enjoyed now, but this wine has the bones to cellar for decades. This is a selection of the older vines on the property. Blended in April and bottled in August of 2023
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.
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.
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.
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