2013 Les Cailles Chardonnay
If you remember the story of “Never Say Never” and the adventure that produced 2010 L’Age D’Or Chardonnay, we made reference to another wine called Les Cailles. From a small section of the vineyard we fermented the grapes Sur Lie in Ermitage Cigar Barrels for 16 months.
Having white Burgundies as benchmarks, especially the wines of Raveneau, Jobard, and Colin, we were never too anxious to even attempt to craft Chardonnay in the new world as we have always felt that the wines were overly extracted, with a buttery popcorn extract, and so much toasted oak/ vanilla, high alcohol and just over the top, in short, nothing of any resemblance whatsoever to an elegant, mineral, white Burgundy -- they seem more like a martini than a Chardonnay.
Tasting Notes:
Le Regard / The Look
Golden Imperial Topaz gemlike clarity, with unctuous weight, great legs, denoting a wine of silky texture.
Le Nez / The Nose
The nose suggests intense concentration, very Puligny, with aromas of pears, hazelnuts, quince, flint, spiked with dried white flowers, lemon peel, and secondary layers of honeycomb and toasted almonds – Superbly elegant and harmonious, gaining intensity as the wines opens up.
Degustation / The Taste
Les Cailles is Soliste’s emblematic Chardonnay, and the 2013 has turned out brilliantly; The front palate is medium to full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with terrific concentration, searing levels of herbal extract, hazelnuts, lemon curd and baked apple. The mid-palate shows great texture and weight, spiked with kaffir lime, white pepper, Mirabelle yellow plum, and white peach. This is a paradoxical wine; Great concentration and weight yet absolute finesse and harmony. As the wines develops and warms up, it delivers a mouthful of honey Tart Tatin, peppery lemon curd, verbena, and grapefruit peel, spiked with a hint of smoked sandalwood. The wine transitions seamlessly into a persistent and long finish with fine tannin, the result of whole cluster press. The back end of the wine is precise, highlighted by dry salty minerality, stone fruit pit, and lime zest, completing this emblematic and amazing Chardonnay…Soliste…