Wine Enthusiast Reviews: June 2010 Issue

92 Soléna 2007 Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir (Eola-Amity Hills)

Laurent and Danielle Montalieu acquired this high-profile vineyard in 2007; this is the first Hyland release under their Soléna label. ItÕs a beautiful Pinot, with the elegance of Burgundy and the freshness of New World grapes. Fermentation in rotary barrels (for color extraction and tannin management) yields a silky, perfumed, feminine wine that penetrates subtly and lingers gracefully. EditorsÕ Choice. — P.G.

91 Soléna 2006 Willakia Vineyard Pinot Noir (Eola-Amity Hills)

The vineyard name is a combination of the two prevalent soil types, Nekia and WillaKenzie. Along with sweet cherry fruit comes a defining minerality— a streak of iron running through the heart of the wine. Balanced nicely, with gentle acidity and sculpted tannins. In the finish you pick up an elegant streak of green tea. — P.G.

91 Soléna 2008 Pinot Gris (Oregon)

As classy a bottle as you might expect from veteran winemaker Laurent Montalieu. Once again the fruit is crystal clear, setting up fresh pear, green apple and pink grapefruit flavors against crisp, juicy acidity. The finish is lively and spicy. — P.G.

90 Soléna 2007 Domaine Danielle Laurent Pinot Noir (Yamhill-Carlton District)

Blackberry and black cherry flavors are right up front, the fruit is definitely the star here. Light suggestions of dried leaf and moist earth add complexity, though in this lighter vintage it does not have the power of previous bottlings. This is a graceful, perfectly balanced wine, whose subtle pleasures will reward those who pay close attention. — P.G.

89 Soléna 2007 Grande Cuvˇe Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)

An appealing mix of fruit and forest floor aromas waft from the glass, leading you into a tart, spicy and earthy wine with well-balanced red fruits, white pepper, bark and graphite flavors. Modest in scale, beautifully balanced, and perfect for near-term enjoyment — P.G.

WINE PRESS NORTHWEST Winter 2010

2006 Wooldridge Creek Merlot

Excellent: Deep in Southern Oregon, this vineyard flies under the radar of most, but owner/winemaker Laurent Montalieu's ability to sniff out top grapes is uncanny. This wine unveils aromas of pomegranates and red cherries, followed by a fruit-driven wine that shows off ripe Rainier cherries and raspberries. Its well-integrated tannins beautifully back up all the fruit.
155 Merlots were tasted for the Merlot Judging and only 61 received an "Excellent" rating.

2007 Domaine Danielle Laurent Pinot Noir

Recommended: The Montalieus farmed this biodynamic estate block at 2.5 tons per acre, which yields notes of pomegranates, pie cherries, citrus, coffee and a whiff of cedar sweater box. Pie cherries, smoky oak and coffee return as flavors with nice acidity and assertive tannins.

2007 Grande Cuvée Pinot Noir

Recommended: Aromas of plum jam on toast, pomegranate, Montmorency cherry and smoky chocolate come through on the palate in a light structure with cranberry acidity.

2007 Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir

Recommended: Laurent Montalieu purchased this 30-year-old vineyard in 2007 and made an approachable Pinot Noir right away. Blackberries, espresso, Triscuit cracker, cedar and five spice powder fill the nose. It's black cherries and Hershey Kisses on the palate with some white strawberry on the midpoint and good acidity on the finish of this easy drink. Enjoy with a bowl of savory meatball soup.

2008 Pinot Gris

Excellent: Laurent Montalieu and his wife, Danielle Andrus Montalieu, named their family project after their daughter. Their collaboration with Ana (Dundee Hills), Bailey (Chehalem Mountains), Guadalupe (Yamhill-Carlton District) and Del Rio (Rogue Valley) shows off aromas of pear, apple, lemon, figs and sandalwood. The palate is focused on fruit with an attractive blend of tangerine, orange and yellow grapefruit. Serve with grilled oysters or lemon-influenced halibut.

NW Palate Magazine

From Dirt to Delicious: Biodynamic Winemaking in the Northwest

Our winemaker Laurent Montalieu is featured in this article in NW Palate Magazine and Soléna is listed one of the ten influential biodynamic wineries.

Article from NW Palate (retrieved March 4, 2010.)

Review From Nw Palate Magazine: Highly Recommended

2008 Soléna Pinot Gris

Attractive floral and spice tones swirl in the nose around citrus fruits, rose blossoms, and vanilla creme. On the palate a rich palette of round fruity flavors are reminiscent of red apple, melon, peach and kumquat. There is a pretty floral overlay that adds additional depth. Though the texture is appealingly oily, there is fresh acidity and a juicy quality. Clean and well-balanced, this is a wonderful Gris to drink with herb-crusted baked cod.

San Fransisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Our Pinot Gris was selected as "Best in Class Judge's Choice" at the SF Chronicle Wine Competition! Congrats!

www.winejudging.com/medal_winners_2010/251.htm

Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

By Jay Miller

2006 Guadalupe Vineyard Pinot Noir: 91 points

Dark ruby-colored, it offers an excellent bouquet of spice box, pencil lead, black cherry, and black raspberry. This is followed by a medium- to full-bodied wine with a plush core of savory fruit, moderate structure, excellent balance and a lengthy finish. Give it 1-2 years and drink it from 2010 to 2016. (October 2008)

2006 Willakia Vineyard Pinot Noir: 91 points

The 2006 Willakia Vineyard is dark ruby-colored with a nose of violets, blueberry, and black cherry. Supple, round, and ripe, it has plenty of succulent fruit, a bit of structure, and excellent length. Drink it over the next six years. (October 2008)

2006 Domaine Danielle Laurent Pinot Noir: 90 points

The 2006 Domaine Danielle Laurent, sourced from the proprietors' biodynamically farmed vineyard, is medium/dark ruby-colored with an enticing perfume of cedar, spice, red cherry, and raspberry. It has a firm entry onto the palate followed by a core of plush, savory fruit, complex flavors, and a pure, fruit-filled finish. Drink it from 2010 to 2016. (October 2008)

2007 Grande Cuvée Pinot Noir

Top Ten 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir Value | The 2007 Pinot Noir Grande Cuvée offers up a bouquet of toasty oak, spice box, cranberry, and cherry. Medium-bodied, elegant, and sweetly fruited, it has lively acidity and enough concealed tannin to evolve for 1-2 years. This savory effort can be enjoyed now and over the next 6-8 years. (August 2009)

¡Salud! Auction Raises Funds for Vineyard Workers' Health Care

By Lisa Shara Hall
From Daily News Links, 11/15/2007

In its 16th year, the annual ¡Salud! Auction raised $775,625 with its focus on premium Oregon Pinot Noirs.

Drawn by the only opportunity to purchase limited production wines from Oregon's top producers, guests from across the country contributed $172,395 for 168 cases at the tasting and big board auction. This event was held last Friday at Domaine Drouhin. Attendees were able to taste the special ¡Salud! Cuvees (the best barrel in the cellar) and bid on the spot. Large screens in each room kept bidders apprised of the totals.

Top two wineries were Beaux Freres and Ponzi, which both topped $2,100. They were closely followed by several wineries, including Soter, Penner Ash, Ken Wright, The Four Graces, Domaine Serene and ArborBrook. The average case price was in excess of $1,000.

A further $603,000 generated at the exciting live and silent auction at Portland's historic Governor Hotel, which was capped by an electrifying paddle raise appeal spurred by a $30,000 combined pledge from 100 independent vineyard owners in the Willamette Valley AVA. The opening from the vineyards was $30,000, which was matched by Bernard Lacroute of WillaKenzie Estate. His ex-wife Ronnie Lacroute, also from WillaKenzie, matched every paddle raise donation of $100 in the room. The crowd went wild.

The top auction lot went for $20,000. It was a week in Provence for two couples with wine tastings, a cooking class and other activities.

Co-chairs Danielle Andrus Montalieu of Soléna Estate and Edwin Irish MD were excited at the outcome. "The heart and enthusiasm bidders showed speaks volumes for the quality and caliber of the wines," said Montalieu. "Our sense of community and commitment gives us the opportunity to support those without whom these wines would not be possible. And we have a great time doing it!"

Irish agreed, saying, "¡Salud! bears testament to the appreciation we all have for seasonal vineyard workers. As their need for healthcare continues to rise, we are particularly grateful for the generosity of ¡Salud! supporters. It's a profound statement."

¡Salud! provides healthcare outreach services for seasonal vineyard workers and their families who cannot qualify for health insurance plans. To fill this void, a dedicated group of Oregon vintners and volunteers associated with Tuality Healthcare Foundation created a bi-lingual service called ¡Salud!, the traditional Spanish toast "to your health."

Through ¡Salud!, seasonal workers receive health education, cholesterol and diabetes screenings, dental care, assistance with medical paperwork and more. Referrals are made for necessary medical aid beyond the financial means of most recipients, including quality prenatal care, hospitalizations and surgeries. Demand for ¡Salud! steadily increases, with over 3,300 individuals served in 2006 alone.

The 2008 auction will be held on November 7 and 8. For details, visit www.saludauction.org.

The participating wineries: Adelsheim, Amalie Robert, Antica Terra, ArborBrook, Archery Summit, Argyle, Beaux Frères, Bergström, Bethel Heights, Broadley, Chehalem, Cristom, Dobbes, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, Domaine Serene, Elk Cove, Erath, Four Graces, Gypsy Dancer, Hamacher, Ken Wright Cellars, King Estate, Lange Estate, Patricia Green Cellars, Patton Valley, Penner-Ash, Ponzi, R. Stuart & Co., Raptor Ridge, Rex Hill, Scott Paul, Shea Wine Cellars, Silvan Ridge, Soléna, Soter, St. Innocent, Stoller, Torii Mor, Westrey, WillaKenzie, Willamette Valley Vineyards and Witness Tree.

Soléna Estate Tasting Room Visit Review

by Thad Westhusing of BeyondtheBottle.com

The next stop on http:// beyondthebottle.com/blog/2007/11/the_fog_of_oregon_wine_country.html my recent Oregon wine country tour was Soléna Estate. I had enjoyed a bottle of Soléna 2005 Grande Cuvee Pinot Noir a couple of months back, therefore was eager to learn more about this outfit and try some of their other wines.

Soléna Estate maintains a spacious tasting room a block south of Main Street in downtown Carlton. On the day I visited, wine was being poured by Lisa, who did a great job sharing stories and answering questions. Right off the bat, I was impressed with the fact that Soléna Estate provided complimentary tastes of seven different wines. That makes things easy - no fees, no refunding - just a focus on tasting wine.

The tasting flight included an '06 Pinot Gris, '05 Quadalupe Pinot Noir, '05 Domaine Danielle Laurent Pinot Noir, '03 Wooldridge Creek Vineyard Merlot, '03 Wooldridge Creek Vineyard Zinfandel, and a '03 Del Rio Vineyard Syrah, poured in that order. It was an interesting mix of wines, but I opted to focus on the one Pinot Gris and the two Pinot Noirs. There was a chardonnay added to the mix, but frankly it tasted a bit off. After tasting the wines, I ended up purchasing a bottle of the '05 Guadalupe Pinot Noir.

It's worth calling out the detailed tasting notes Soléna Estate offers with their wines. The sheet I was given on the '05 Guadalupe covers the characteristics of the vintage, vineyard, and vinification in such a way that you get a real feel for the who, what and where behind this wine. Their web site offers these same detailed notes on each of the wines in current release, with the exception of the '05 Guadalupe which has yet to be posted online.

I learned a lot from Lisa on this visit, including how the winery got it's start (founded by Laurent Montalieu, formerly of WillaKenzie, and Danielle Andrus Montalieu, formerly of Archery Summit), how it was named (Soléna, a combination of the French and Spanish words for sun and moon, is the name of Laurent and Danielle's daughter), and where the grapes are sourced (some from their estate vineyard, a wedding gift to each other).

I especially liked the story how Laurent and Danielle planted their 80 acre estate vineyard with six Pinot Noir clones that were received as wedding gifts. That is the first time I have ever heard of grape vines being part of a wedding registry, providing a truly unique story. I also found out that Soléna wine is actually made in McMinnville, a town about 7 miles away, at the Northwest Wine Company facility, a custom winemaking operation started by Laurent that serves about 25 clients.

One thing was becoming clear during my tour of Yamhill County wineries: these folks really care about terroir, maybe even more so than their neighbors to the north in Washington state. I might be over-generalizing here, but vineyard designated wines seem to be much more common in this neck of the woods. Granted, this focus is to be expected with estate wineries, which are more of the rule in Oregon than in Washington. Regardless, I really like the emphasis on place and all that it brings to understanding and enjoying a wine.

And it took some getting used to hearing folks in the tasting room not only talk about vineyards but soil types. Such was the case with Lisa at Soléna, who educated me on the characteristics of Willakenzie soil (well-drained shallow soil over siltstone) and several other types such as Jory and Dundee soils. It was both fascinating and fun to connect the soil to the wine in my glass. I had never experienced this type of connection in a winery's tasting room before.

Overall, this was a fantastic visit. Whatever Soléna Estate lacks in setting, it more than makes up for in providing visitors with a deeper connection to their wines and Oregon pinot noir in general. I learned a lot about grape growing and wine making in the Willamette Valley on this visit, probably more than any other place during my tour. And it was refreshing to find a tasting room that didn't charge a fee. This focus on friendly service and useful learnings make the Soléna Estate tasting room a must stop if you're in the Carlton area.

Steve Tanzer – International Wine Cellar

2005 Soléna Estate Pinot Noir Grande Cuvee Willamette Valley: 88 points

($25) Dark red. Smoky cherry and dark berry aromas, with complicating notes of succulent herbs and cola. Suave blackberry and cherry-cola flavors offer good depth and sweetness, with a bright mineral note adding energy. The sweet, persistent finish shows a brisk note of crystallized blackberry.

2004 Soléna Estate Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard Willamette Valley: 91 points

($35) Ruby-red. Explosive, seductively spicy aromas of raspberry and darker berries, with complicating notes of exotic Asian spice and fresh rose. Supple and deep, with impressive sweetness and plush texture to the red berry liqueur flavors. Fine, dusty tannins contribute structure. Gains weight with air but maintains brightness and focus, finishing with suggestions of rose pastille and excellent persistence.

2004 Soléna Estate Pinot Noir Domaine Danielle Laurent Willamette Valley: 91 points

($45) Dark violet. Powerful dark berry and kirsch scents are deepened by exotic notes of cured tobacco, espresso and dark chocolate. Ripe, liqueur-like blackberry and cassis flavors are wrapped in sweet mocha and candied licorice, picking up vibrant mineral tones with air. Offers an intriguing melange of bright berry and musky earth on the finish, which has impressive breadth and length.

The Honolulu Advertisor: RAISE A GLASS

Climate change may bring more Northwest wines

By Cynthia Fenner
May 24, 2007
Original publication at: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com

There is a lot of talk these days about global warming. Whatever the cause, there is definitely a warming trend affecting different aspects of our planet, including the wine industry. Lately I've found during tastings that wines of the Pacific Northwest rival and sometimes surpass the wines coming out of Napa. Although it's certainly a matter of personal preference, I enjoy wines that have roundness and complexity. In the wine business, we call this "physiological ripeness."

What does the term mean? When grapes are growing in a hot climate, they may get picked at a certain degree of sugar content (brix). This does not necessarily mean the grape is at its highest quality; the skins and seeds may still be bitter. These wines may have a high alcohol content as the sugar converts to alcohol during fermentation. To achieve physiological ripeness, the grape grower looks for a longer ripening time by searching for ideal growing conditions, such as cool nights, fog, elevation and perhaps a lake or nearby river or ocean to cool the grapes down so the skins, seeds and sugar content come into balance at the same time. These wines will be more complex and nuanced than a ripe alcoholic fruit bomb. So this may explain the abundance of wineries opening in Washington and Oregon.

I adore wines from Oregon and Washington. They can be less expensive than Napa wines, and the lower alcohol content goes better with dinner. Oregon wines are grown predominately near the coast, and Oregon is renowned for its pinot gris and its Burgundian style of pinot noir. Oregon has the fourth-highest production of wine in the states. But even with ideal soil and climate, growers have to watch closely as rainfall at harvest time can quickly plump the delicate pinot grapes up too much, watering down the juice and also making them susceptible to rot. When everything comes together, however, the wines can be magical. I look for pinot noir from Adlesheim, Domaine Serene, Domaine Coteau, Soléna and Ken Wright. Some of my favorite Oregon pinot gris are Chehelam and King's Estate.

Washington is second to California in production. Grapes are grown farther inland, and Bordeaux varietals are famous here such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and also the Rhone varietal syrah. Some great wines to try from Washington are Delille Blanc and Estate Red, Matthews Cellars Claret, Andrew Will Merlots and Bordeaux Blends. There is a project in Washington called Long Shadows where the proprietor, Allen Shoup, teams up with famous winemakers around the world such as Michel Rolland, Agustin Huneeus and Philippe Melka, to produce some stunning wines. And if you are lucky enough to find any of the cult cabernet sauvignon by Quilceda Creek, pick it up. Wine critic Robert Parker, of the Wine Advocate, has rated this wine 100 points in the past two vintages, and the Wine Spectator ranked it No. 2 on the top 100 list this year; however, the availability is extremely limited.

What the future climate changes hold in store for winemakers and grape growers remain to be seen. Perhaps we will see wines coming from even farther north and more from coastal and mountain regions. But for now, we can truly appreciate the wines coming from the Pacific Northwest.

Come by the Neiman Marcus Epicure department, right outside Mariposa restaurant, from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday for a free tasting of stellar wines from the Pacific Northwest, hosted by Cheryl Lynn Mattos of JMD Beverages.

Cynthia Fenner is a certified sommelier and the wine buyer for Neiman Marcus Epicure. Reach her at 948-7557.