Perched high atop Red Mountain, Col Solare is one of the most gorgeous wineries in the Pacific Northwest. The views from this legendary site are extraordinary. Col Solare is a historic partnership between Chateau Ste. Michelle and the Antinori Family that began with their first vintage in 1995, as Col Solare’s mission has been to amalgamate these two distinct viticultural and winemaking backgrounds to create a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon-based red wine from choice Red Mountain fruit.
I have been really impressed with these wines since they first began making them with the 1995 vintage. I have been tasting this wine since their first vintage and I have been so impressed with the consistency of the wines. Both winemaker Darell Allwine and assistant winemaker Will Wiles are truly talented and you can taste the level of dedication and commitment in the glass.
Col Solare make a host of wines now from their estate, including limited production single varital wines, under their ‘Component Collection’ label which are largely wine club wines. Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot. They are now making a higher end wine ‘Tenuta’ which was just as impressive of last year’s edition.
The 2017 Col Solari ‘Component Collection’ Syrah (OB, 95) is glorious and rich with incredible texture and length. The same is true with the scintillating 2017 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Malbec (OB, 94) which is dense and chewy, delivering a downright delicious core of blue and dark fruits, has a silky mouthfeel. This glorious and unabashedly monstrous beast will cellar well for decades to come. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.colsolare.com and Here is my review of the great new Col Solare wines.
2017 Col Solare Red Wine- Beautifully perfumed, this evokes violets and gravel tones alongside rich creme de cassis, anise and blackberry cordial tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is plush and marvelously textured. This shows amazing length and weight, with a massive core of dark fruits and chocolate alongside coffee grounds, sagebrush and exotic spices on the palate. This is marvelous to enjoy now at the four year mark, as the stunning 2017 Col Solari will cellar well for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94
2017 Col Solare ‘Collector’s Society’ Red Wine- The 2017 Col Solari ‘Collector’s Society’ Red Wine is a silky blend of mostly Merlot (57%) with 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. Dark. Chocolate with sagebrush and black currants all mark the nose. The textural elements of the wine are really gorgeous. Creme de cassis, black olive and Turkish coffee with blackberry compote and tar all come together marvelously on the palate. The seamless quality of the wine is gorgeous as this will provide drinking enjoyment for decades to come. Drink 2021-2036- 94
2017 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘Component Collection’ Syrah Syrah shows gorgeous toasty oak aromatics with black currants, smoked brisket and shades of chocolate that all come together marvelously in the glass. The palate is rich and volutupusuisu with a sinfully good texture. Great structure with milk chocolate with tobacco and a deep core of dark ruits with scorched earth tines that really impress. There is something that just screams Red Mountain about this beautiful wine that has at least another decade of life head of it. Drink 2021-2033- 95
2017 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Malbec- The 2017 ‘Component Collection’ Malbec shows bright violets with blackberry compote and white pepper dusted mocha tones alongside scorched earth that all take shape in the glass. The palate is plush showing a gorgeous sense of richness and complexity. Blueberry cordial and Black Forest Cake flavors march on parade with espresso bean and dark currants on the palate. The length here is really good, as this beautiful and decadent Malbec wine will provide drinking enjoyment for the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94