Winery - Col Solare
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Col Solare, the collaboration between Ste. Michelle and Antinori, brought in the first estate grapes this year, but it will be awhile before it becomes an estate wine. The current vintage uses five varieties from a half dozen vineyards scattered across four different AVAs. It’s soft, fruity and open, with a firm core of black fruits wrapped into lightly smoky, polished tannins.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Twenty percent of the fruit in this 2005 comes from Red Mountain grapes—though not yet from the newly planted estate vineyard. Rich, ripe, smooth and supple, this nicely styled blend is packed with good dark fruits and sweet berry jam flavors. It’s supple and muscular, with well-modulated tannins, and layered flavors of earth, soy and black tea.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is the second label for Col Solare, the Ste. Michelle/Antinori collaboration on Red Mountain. A fine bottle for the price, it shows the same elegance and supple texture as the frontline wine. Black cherry, blueberry, mocha and smoke swirl over and around the palate. Only in the finish does it seem to fade quickly, with a very slight suggestion of glue in the aftertaste.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
An excellent Col Solare; the best yet. It has suppleness and structure, with a panoply of fruits, from cassis to slightly candied cherries. The barrel notes are here in proportion, adding toast and coffee and chocolate, and the tannins are firm and polished. A strong core leads into a tight, confident finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Tasted right after bottling, this new release from the high-profile Ste. Michelle/Antinori Red Mountain project may be the finest Col Solare to date. The blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and a splash each of Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot. Half is Horse Heaven Hills fruit, one quarter Cold Creek and one quarter Wahluke Slope. This is a chewy, muscular wine, dense with plummy fruit, and layered with flavors of earth, soy and black tea. There is a hint of baked, pruney flavor that is restrained enough to add interest rather than detract.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This partnership between Chateau Ste. Michelle and Antinori is always a quality wine. The ’99 is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Syrah and 2% Malbec. The classic cassis and chocolate aromas have an accent of caramel. Flavors include intense black currants and a touch of spice. The wine is as elegant as it is deep, with a long, complex finish. Editors’ Choice. —C.S.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This wine, though a step up from recent vintages, continues the brand’s reputation as an underperformer. This is a well-made, Cabernet-dominated blend with black cherry, sweet chocolate, soft tannins and a streak of licorice down the middle.
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