2014 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon Solari Reserve
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Note di degustazione
Lucid red-ruby. Sexy aromas of brambly raspberry, clove and tobacco are lifted and enlivened by notes of flowers and mint. Then densely packed and sweet, offering palate-saturating flavors of dark fruits and smoky herbs. This very long, lively wine finishes with integrated, building tannins that turned a bit dustier with air. Winemaker Petroski noted that the warm nights during the summer of 2014 meant that the vines were "constantly moving" and never really shut down. The harvest, he went on, was very early (9/12) but 2015 was even earlier (9/4). (15.3% alcohol)
Punteggi della critica
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Altre recensioni e punteggi
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari is flat out awesome. Always 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 20 months in 80% new French oak, this ripe, sexy, multi-dimensional beauty boasts a deep, saturated purple color as well as layers of plum and cassis fruit intermixed with lots of cedar, spice-cabinet, spring flowers and earth. Possessing full-bodied richness, an expansive, layered texture, incredible depth and a ripe, yet building tannin, it can be enjoyed anytime over the coming 2-3 decades. Located north of Saint Helena and pulling all from their estate vineyard located around the winery, owner Cam Baker and winemaker Dan Petroski have produced some true superstars in 2015. These are ripe, full-bodied, majestic, yet structured wines that are going to age beautifully. There’s been a distinct stylistic shift with the 2016s, which were harvested far in advance of when most were harvesting, and the wines are certainly still beautiful, yet more tannic, backward, and angular. They’ll be beautiful wines, but certainly in a different style than previous vintages.
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari, which is again 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, flirts with perfection. It spent 20 months in 80% new French oak and hails from their Cortina Gravel and clay sectors of the vineyard. They made 793 cases of this compelling wine, which offers great freshness and energy, profound depth of flavor, an opaque black/purple color, and oodles of pure crème de cassis and blackberry fruit intermixed with incense, charcoal and white flowers. It’s a stunner to drink now and over the next three decades.
The 2014 Solari is wonderfully deep, pliant and expressive, but also shows all the restraint of the vintage. Gravel, graphite, menthol, smoke, licorice, herbs and inky blue fruits are front and center. The 2014 possesses striking inner sweetness and fabulous overall balance . Creamy, nuanced and expressive, the 2014 will likely start drinking well with just a few years in bottle.