Soliste :: Our Wines

The 2011 Harvest is here! To celebrate, we are releasing the much, much anticipated 2009 vintage. We are thrilled to share with you our continuous quest and commitment to produce extraordinary Pinot Noir:

When the Planets align
Mother Nature was extremely kind in 2009, creating the perfect storm for us to produce our first MonoClone™ pinot noirs. The 2009 Vintage is a revelation, an epiphany; it is also a commitment to produce much fewer cases to craft extraordinary pinots that exemplify their identity and sense of place, also called Terroir. In 2009, we pushed our commitment much further, focusing on the single clone that would be in perfect harmony with vineyard site, and the results are simply stunning and magical. This is why we make Pinot Noir.

This commitment means we must sacrifice production to craft the purest and most elegant pinot noir in order to express the identity and terroir of each vineyard and each clone.

The stunning 2009 L'Espérance is the result of a perfect growing season, flawless harvest and our commitment to harness the purity and complexity of one clone from one vineyard, it has always been our most sought after release. With just 49 cases produced, unfortunately this means we must limit only six bottles per customer and we anticipate that L’Espérance will be sold out within the next few days.

Le Regard / The Look
Brilliant Ruby purity of raspberries and groseilles (red currants) with unmatched gem clarity and luminosity.

Le Nez / The Nose
Chiseled aromatics of pure red fruit (raspberries, pomegranate, groseilles) layered with elegant sous-bois (forest floor), refined scents of exotic cardamom, peppery herbals interlaced with earthy undertones. As the wine evolves in the glass or decanter, the aromatics become more voluptuous with high tone aromatics, superbly pure, and complex adding vanilla and sandalwood – L’Espérance 2009 is concentration and charm, a stunning paradox of the very best.

Degustation / The Taste
The palate carries on the theme, attacking with a compelling purity of red fruit, an intensity that is only matched by the refined silky texture. The elegant, velvety raspberry and wild cherry compote carries on with great intense layers of tart groseille, cranberry and pomegranate interlaced with fatty vanilla bean and exotic spices. A fine layer of earthy truffles, tea must, cardamom, and herbal aromatics are interlaced with the finest tannins and fresh crystalline acidity, all adding to an incredible length and complexity.

Though delicate and refined, the paradoxical concentration and intensity of L’Espérance embodies our philosophy: Focus on a single clone gave birth to this absolutely stunning Pinot Noir. Powerful, yet refined, what a pinot noir should be and rarely is.

April 2011, we always look forward to this time of year to celebrate the arrival of Soleil Rouge – our crisp, vivacious refreshing Rosé with complexity and balanced acidity that, we will promise you, will not last long in our cellars. The only thing better than a chilled glass of Rosé, is another glass of Rosé, followed by a glass of Soliste Pinot Noir. Share the joy.

Soleil Rouge is "Le Vin des Amis" – fresh, lively, served chilled to warm your heart and fill you with joy and conviviality. Enjoy with charcuterie, oysters, or our favorite, fire pit paella. Just a few cases are available – this year we will work even harder to drink them all first!

Tasting Notes:
The Soliste pinot noir heritage is unmistakable: Luscious aroma of freshly crush raspberries and minerals followed by the taste of sun-dried Fraise des Bois (wild strawberries), griottines (tart wild cherries), rhubarb, and melon. The chalky minerality creates depth and complexity to compliment the bright pink grapefruit acidity and exotic spices. Elegance, finesse, vivacity, freshness…..Soliste. Once again we ask, why oh why did we make so little of it?

Introducing Lune et Soleil: In the tradition of Soleil Rouge, a crisp, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc to begin your summer celebrations.

Lune et Soleil is a true expression of Soliste wines: Exceptional vineyards, meticulous grape selection, elegant balance of acidity and tannins, to create wines of great complexity and finesse.

Tasting Notes
The wine reveals elegant aromas of exotic white flowers, citrus blossoms, lemongrass and peppery verbena, with hints of tropical fruit, melon and green almond. The rich and delicate tropical aromas are followed seamlessly from the nose by a fresh taste of pineapple, guava, lychee and waxy fruit giving the wine fantastic vivacity. The middle palette shows great voluptuousness and finesse, with focused aromas of stone fruit and spicy kaffir lime, moving into a long mineral finish of flint, granite river stones and peppery sap.

Three years ago in our tenacious search for outstanding vineyards that would fit our philosophy to craft elegant, complex wines of great character, we came upon a stunning Syrah vineyard site. Our commitment to age this superb Syrah for 22 months in barriques is in the tradition of the Northern Rhone masters. The reward is a muscular, powerful wine with trademark Soliste elegance, length and balance.

Out of the Shadows comes from a sliver of a vineyard in the Bennett Valley hills. The site has a western exposure, gravelly soil and sits on the side of a small mountain. This provides excellent drainage, even sun exposure, and a cool climate. The vineyard has a breathtaking view of the Santa Rosa plain and is meticulously farmed.

The growing season had lower than average rainfall resulting in earlier budbreak and bloom adding length to the growing season. Loose, open clusters of plump, luscious berries helped increase exposure to sunlight and avoid problems with late season moisture. 20% whole clusters were reserved and traditional gentle foot punch-downs helped extract flavors. Following fermentation, the wine was aged for 22 months in 100% French oak 450 liter Barriques and bottled in late August 2010.

Tasting Notes:
Le Regard / The Look
Deep cassis with a dark garnet robe, a classic Syrah.

Le Nez / The Nose
Elegant aromatics of violets, Cassis, blackberry and wild plums (quetches) layered with licorice, bacon and herbal undertones. As the wine evolves in the glass or decanter, the aromatics become more voluptu-ous, conveying a tremendous sense of power, superbly focused and complex adding tobacco leaves, espresso and vanilla bean.

Degustation / The Taste
Up front the wine is a muscular concentration of cassis, plums and dark wild cherries, reminiscent of freshly sundried berry compote, interlaced with licorice, mint, and sage. This would be a Beast of a wine if the tannins had not been tamed by our commitment to age the wine for 22 months in large barrels. The middle palate becomes velvety, yet incredibly rich, with a wet stone minerality that is astonishing as the smooth tannins add exotic spice and bitter chocolate. Phenomenal acidity and balance add to the wine liveliness and poise. The Finish is long, elegant, and effortless. It is a powerful caldron of tart cassis, black cherries, bitter caramel and tobacco leaves creating length, complexity and finesse.

Out of the Shadows 2008 is a Beast tamed by Soliste’s commitment to craft elegant wines.

Continuing our search for the "Pinot Noir Grail," the Exceptional 2008 vintage is the result of a maturing vineyard in the expert hands of our amazing team, bringing to focus our desire to craft a pinot noir of great depth, complexity, finesse and balance. This is our best and purest representation of this magical cépage.

Sonatera is an artisan Pinot Noir vineyard near Sebastopol. On a ridgeline with slopes facing north, south and west the Goldridge Sandy Loam soil with low fertility and high acidity supports Dijon 777 and 115 clones. Each afternoon, brisk marine winds blow over the vines during the growing season. This chilled air reduces the vines’ vigor and extends the ripening period of the grapes without developing extreme sugar, enabling exceptionally complex and nuanced flavors.

The warm growing season resulted in a crop of small berries with unusual concentration. We harvested at midnight to keep the grapes cold for crush. 25% whole clusters were reserved and the balance was gently destemmed. Following fermentation, the wine was aged in 100% French oak barrels with 35% new for 11 months and bottled in late August 2009.

Tasting Notes:
Le Regard / The Look
Intense luminosity of ruby gem with crushed raspberry robe (color) and deep boysenberry clarity. A classic.

Le Nez / The Nose
Focused aromatics of griottes (wild cherries), boysenberries and raspberries, interlaced with sous-bois (dead foliage), herbal undertones, violets, and mushrooms. As the wine evolves in the glass or decanter, the aromatics become more voluptuous, superbly pure and complex adding vanilla and cedar – incredibly exotic.

Degustation / The Taste
Complex, exotic, and silky; wild cherries, ripe raspberries and cranberries are layered with herbal under-tones of sage and mint, mushroom and sous-bois (dead foliage). The wine is very focused and the harmonious tannins create a finesse and elegance rarely seen. The red fruit acidity completes the balance to magnify the length into a long finish of soft roast coffee, vanilla and cedar.

Soliste Sonatera in 2008 possesses great depth and power, yet amazing elegance, silk and grace.
Complete Release Notes (pdf)

Our wines are available under allocation by subscribing to our Mail List. Soliste is also available from our restaurant partners where it is best enjoyed with their extraordinary cuisine and good friends.