Col Solare 2009
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Product Details
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Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc 2% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The most structured and tannic of the lineup and a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and a splash of Malbec that was harvested during the second week of September, the 2009 Col Solare obviously comes from a warm vintage. Offering up ripe, decadently styled aromas of blackberry, kirsch, licorice and classic Red Mountain crushed stone-like minerality (42% of the blend is from Red Mountain) on the nose, it is a big rich 2009 that has solid mid-palate depth and layers of fruit that only partially cover full-throttle tannin. Needing time to round into shape, it will benefit from another 2-3 years of bottle- age and have a solid 15+ years of overall longevity. Drink 2015-2024.
Rating: 93+ Points
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Wine & Spirits
Here’s an old-school red with a cedary scent overlaying tightly-wrapped red plum fruit that, while tethered to warm caramel oak accents, is vertical and elegant. This is bound up and waiting for the cellar, where the polish of the tannins should relax with three years of age.
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Wine Spectator
Dark and dense, with crunchy tannins around a solid core of black cherry and currant flavors, shaded with notes of sage and a hint of wet stone. Finishes strong. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.
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One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
A large and geographically diverse AVA capable of producing a wide variety of wine styles, the Columbia Valley AVA is home to 99% of Washington state’s total vineyard area. A small section of the AVA even extends into northern Oregon!
Because of its size, it is necessarily divided into several distinctive sub-AVAs, including Walla Walla Valley and Yakima Valley—which are both further split into smaller, noteworthy appellations. A region this size will of course have varied microclimates, but on the whole it experiences extreme winters and long, hot, dry summers. Frost is a common risk during winter and spring. The towering Cascade mountain range creates a rain shadow, keeping the valley relatively rain-free throughout the entire year, necessitating irrigation from the Columbia River. The lack of humidity combined with sandy soils allows for vines to be grown on their own rootstock, as phylloxera is not a serious concern.
Red wines make up the majority of production in the Columbia Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety here, where it produces wines with a pleasant balance of dark fruit and herbs. Wines made from Merlot are typically supple, with sweet red fruit and sometimes a hint of chocolate or mint. Syrah tends to be savory and Old-World-leaning, with a wide range of possible fruit flavors and plenty of spice. The most planted white varieties are Chardonnay and Riesling. These range in style from citrus and green apple dominant in cooler sites, to riper, fleshier wines with stone fruit flavors coming from the warmer vineyards.