2014 Solitaire Pinot Noir

and so it continues...

 SOLITAIRE 2014 – ONE BIG BARREL

Single Vineyard, Single Clone, Single Barrel – MonoClone^®

Learning from the best in Chambolle

On our last visit to Burgundy, Don and I were privileged to spend time with Francois Bertheau, who has been a great favorite of mine for crafting the most elegant and complex Chambolle, especially his Bonnes Mares. This was a long day of great food and extraordinary wines, but the most compelling memory was the tasting of the 2007 vintage in barrels, which were simply intoxicating. Francois was especially generous with his time as we had a thousand questions and he revealed without hesitation what he believes makes his wines so compelling. One of the key component is that Francois will use large 600 liter barrels from a specific forest and tonnellerie (cooperage). He also extends the aging to allow for the wine to develop exotic aromatics and to round the shoulders, creating wines of great complexity, lace, and silk. 

We took note. Years later, Don and I still speak of that magical day that was truly an epiphany for us, especially after we opened some of the 2007 Bonnes Mares and Les Amoureuses that we were so fortunate to taste in barrel and enjoyed once bottled. Simply put, they are why we make Pinot Noir.

In 2014 as the planets aligned, we decided that the time was right to put that “Bertheau” philosophy to the test. From the vineyard nestled in the redwood forest, we selected the very best grapes through multiple passes at harvest and with 50% whole cluster fermentation. We aged the wine in ONE 600 liter barrel, with this vintage we felt we it could age for an extended time…we waited, AND WAITED…for 28 Months…to create SOLITAIRE.

There are very few times one can feel truly lucky and privileged that their craft can stand along with the very best. SOLITAIRE confirms all of our expectations and embodies our commitment and passion to craft compelling Pinot Noirs. SOLITAIRE originates from humble admiration of the magnificent, peerless wines of BERTHEAU and we thank Francois for showing us the way. 

SOLITAIRE is simply magical, if you have the chance to taste this wine blind next to a Bonnes Mares Grand Cru from Bertheau, it will be quite a day!!!! I simply can not believe how amazing the similitudes are, especially being from opposite side of the world. Our goals have always focused on being in the conversation with Great Burgundies and SOLITAIRE is the reward – anything else for us is simply not acceptable. Some may feel that it is presumptuous of us to even declare such ideas, others, closer to us hint it is just madness…obsession. 

We could tell you so much more about this fascinating wine, the magnificent vineyard, steep slope in the middle of the redwoods, just a few rows lost in the fog, the commitment to pick over multiple days in the middle of the night to gather the very best clusters, the search for the perfect barrel, but the best part will be in the glass, when you really taste this wine.

When we opened the first bottle the other night over one of our legendary dinners next to a 2007 Bertheau Bonnes Mares, we were speechless and a little confused of which one was in which glass. I thought that I may have switched the glasses in error. Then we smiled, we smiled a lot. Since SOLITAIRE was born from One 600 liter barrel and we also believe that this Pinot Noir will age magnificently, we also decided that we would bottle many Magnums. Big barrel. Big bottles, makes sense to us.

2014 had a moderate winter resulting in an earlier start to the vintage. We enjoyed a cool spring and a good fruit set. Overall it was a temperate, gentle growing season that helped to nurture complexity, length, and concentration along with quality and consistency both in and among our vineyards. While the persistent drought was concerning in some areas, our cool, coastal sites remained unaffected – in fact Solitaire’s vineyard was and remains dry farmed – no irrigation.

In Burgundy, a winemaker may reserve a special barrel for friends and family. They call this barrel Soliste. SOLITAIRE defines the origin and the promise of Soliste. From one barrel only 56 cases of 750s and 54 Magnums of Solitaire were produced. Although it hurts to part with so few bottles, sharing this special release with you, the very few that have been loyal supporters of our journey, fills us with joy and pride.

SOLITAIRE...ENIGMATIC GRACE OF MUSIGNY

2014 Solitaire Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Tasting Notes 

Vibrant Crimson gemstone clarity in the glass, notably viscous, with great legs. The bouquet soars from the glass in very expressive, exotic and pure aromas, rich scents of red and black cherries, raspberry liquor, sage, bacon fat, and black pepper. As the wine opens up, the aromas become much more dense and focused with intense perfumes of dark caramelized cherries, cassis, licorice, chocolate ganache, cardamom, and cedar. The first taste is firm, yet beautifully integrated tannins provide the backdrop for the highly nuanced, expressive aromas and flavors that envelop the palate; wonderfully sweet concentration of black cherries, peppery plum compote, herbal tones, and exotic spices, all elevated with real tension. The middle palate is dynamic from pressing whole clusters, creating layers of earthiness spiked with blackberry/blueberry compote, blood orange, and dried maple leaves; a magical wine. As the wine evolves, Solitaire’s shoulders become more broad, muscular, yet sappy at the core, with ripe tannins, the result of the long aging in the large 600 liter barrel. All the elements that creates magical Pinot Noir are in the right place in this extraordinary moving wine. Solitaire delivers a very powerful pure fruit and spice balance only matched by its deep sensual texture. This a wine of great length, verve, grip and finish which tells us that it will age extremely well, this is the closest we have come to Burgundy. Francois Bertheau would be proud and we thank him for his inspiration and excellence.