Wine Enthusiast 97
This distinctive and sophisticated 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is attractive, delicious and built to age. Aromas of freshly roasted coffee cascade into flavors of violet and sweet plum sprinkled with spiced cocoa. The tannins are persistent and velvety carrying into a long finish.
Jeb Dunnuck 96
Lastly, the flagship 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari comes from older vines and is raised primarily in new barrels. It's notably darker hued compared to the classic Cabernet Sauvignon release and has a darker profile of ripe blackcurrants, red plums, leather, savory herbs, and scorched earth. This carries to a medium to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that shows the more restrained, focused style of the estate, with good concentration, ripe tannins, and outstanding length, along with a kiss of salinity on the finish. There's not much baby fat, but it has beautiful mid-palate depth, ripe, polished, building tannins, integrated acidity, and I think it's going to age beautifully.
Wine Spectator 94
"Perfumed and seductive, with a mix of steeped black cherry, raspberry and red currant coulis flavors infused with black tea, singed sandalwood and warm earth through the finish. Offers a nice fleshy edge, though this remains reserved and silky overall. Drink now through 2038. 1,202 cases made."-JM
The 2021 Solari Estate Cabernet Sauvignon offers an alluring bouquet, beginning with violets and wild blackberries that gracefully evolve into layers of spiced plum and tobacco as the wine breathes. Deep fruit notes are beautifully interwoven with subtle vanilla and cedar, imparting a gentle warmth. Nuances of black tea and bay laurel add aromatic depth and complexity.
On the palate, the first sip reveals a wine of remarkable intensity and poise, with a brooding, round, and structured midpalate. A vibrant acidity sharpens the focus, lifting the flavors, and adding energy. Velvety tannins provide a delicate, yet firm framework that supports the wines broad and plush mouthfeel. The finish is impressively long, with a seamless continuity that reveals the wines sophistication. The 2021 Solari Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is both powerful and elegant, embodying a stunning balance of grace and precision. ~Winery Notes
Larkmead Vineyards is one of the original four family-owned wineries in the Napa Valley. Founded in 1895 by the Hitchcock family, Larkmead has been under the stewardship of the Solari family since 1948. Since that time, the family has steadily farmed, replanted, and nurtured the 115-acre vineyard to produce some of the most recognized wines from Napa Valley.
Situated on the floor of northern Napa Valley, the Estate extends from the opposite facing Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges and encompasses multiple soil types; each is specifically planted to clonal-rootstock combinations that comprise Larkmeads 100% estate grown and produced wines. In 2023,after nearly seven years of farming organically and several years of undergoing the rigorous certification process, Larkmead Vineyards received its official California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) status. The CCOF status further adds to the familys commitment to land stewardship at Larkmead Vineyards.
