2015 Solari Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Bright dark red with ruby tones. Aromas of raspberry liqueur, tobacco and licorice complicated by subtle soil tones. Juicy, spicy and concentrated; surprisingly alive for its high pH, with its red and darker fruit flavors complemented by menthol and soil notes and lifted by minerality. Very Cabernet but not in a particularly black style. Finishes with firm tannic grip and excellent length. (14.5% alcohol; 3.98 pH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari emerges from clay-rich soils on the estate. Pliant, supple and enveloping, the 2015 possesses stunning textural depth and resonance. Soft contours (for a young Calistoga Cabernet) and plush fruit add to the wine's considerable sexiness and allure.
From clay soils, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari is borderline perfection and reminds me of a young Montrose with its deep cassis and currant fruit, graphite and lead pencil nuances, full-bodied richness, and a powerful, yet opulent personality. This is a gorgeous wine that is certainly approachable today given its purity and balance, yet needs a decade to hit prime time and is going to keep for 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 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari displays an opaque purple-black color with an intense mocha, baked blackcurrants and stewed plums nose plus hints of sautéed herbs, underbrush and tapenade. Full-bodied, concentrated and very firm in the mouth, it offers great ripeness and plenty of power but is just a little chewy and lacking that next-level finesse.