2019 Cru Des Bernardines Pinot Noir
CRU DES BERNARDINES...Clos De La Roche...West
2019 CRU DES BERNARINES MonoClone Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
2019…the most extraordinary growing season in the history of Soliste, generously gave us all the ingredients to craft our very best wines in accordance with our love for Burgundies.
In The World of Pinot Noir, the most delicate of cépages, in normal times, it is a rarity to have all the planets align, especially with the climatic chaos. Pinot Noir is the canary in the coal mine; any subtle changes are magnified in the vineyard and, therefore, in the barrel.
Because of this exceptional harvest, with fruits of great complexity, we decided to isolate one parcel that had a significantly unique character, and we call it Cru Des Bernardines in homage to the Bernardins monks, instrumental in vineyard development in the Rhone Valley and in Burgundy with the Cistercians. This will be the first and only release of this Unicorn, a once-in-a-blue-moon event never to be reproduced at Soliste.
We characterized the 2018 growing season as "near-perfect." It was a welcome break from drought, fire, and unpredictability. 2019 started with record-breaking rains in February and, over the season, up to 51 inches of groundwater replenishing precipitation. The vines properly rested thanks to persistent cold, wet conditions over winter. Bud-break was slightly delayed, helping to avoid early Spring frosts. A bit of late May rain caused minor shatter. August was largely fog-free, and an overall warmer growing season in comparison to the previous year. Harvest timing was unhurried, promoting more uniform flavor development and stem lignification essential for whole cluster vinification. We carefully monitored flavor development and acids, and as is our practice, used multiple picks to select specific blocks as they matured. Two near-perfect growing seasons...Sacre Bleu.
Tasting Notes
Le Regard / The Look
Scintillating Ruby robe, crystalline gem brilliance showing great fruit purity and energy.
Le Nez / The Nose
An exquisitely defined bouquet with layers of pure red fruit, crushed rock, violets, and a light sea spray influence, it is very focused and conveys a sense of great energy. After a couple of swirls, the aromas are very lively, stacked with dried raspberries, blueberries, red cherries, weaved with musty sous-bois, citrus rind, and salted caramels. As the wine opens in the glass or decanter, the aromatics become more chiseled and earthy with superb red fruit laced with Kirsch scents spiked with floral notes, dried maple leaves, rose petals, and spices like cardamom, clove, and cinnamon. Superbly exotic in spice and dry floral tones, accented with graphite and saline minerality.
Degustation / The Taste
The front palate delivers great energy of defined red fruits: tart Montmorency cherries, raspberries, and pomegranate, with layers of exotic spices, violets, and citrus rind, all macerated in Kirsch. This is a wine of great energy, lively and vibrant, very chiseled and linear, with a high pitch upper palate, very racy and fresh but with palpable fruit density. The second taste and mid-palate are rich and suave, with broad-shoulder pure, chewy red fruits framed with raspberry liquor, red cherry stew, wet limestone, tobacco, and dried tea must. The freshness of the red fruits is impeccably balanced with dried maple leaves, rosehips, Kirsch, anise, white pepper, cedar wood, and a touch of leather, stemming from the 25% whole cluster press. The finish is extremely lively and elegant, elevated by smooth tannin and red fruit acidity, giving the wine energy and lift. This wine is structurally perfect, chiseled, and lean, yet with a suave texture showcasing pure red fruits laced with exotic spices and Meyer lemon zests.
Cru Des Bernardines, only made once and never again, is a pure representation of a Chambollesque Pinot Noir: Chiseled elegance, sensual, red fruit purity, and high pitch finish, all in perfect harmony…Soliste