May 5, 2013
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Soléna Estate
| Owner(s) | Danielle Andrus-Montalieu, Laurent Montalieu |
| Web site | www.solenaestate.com |
| Link to this site |
Laurent Montalieu and Danielle Andrus-Montalieu came together to create this family-owned winery. Soléna is the combination of the Spanish and French words 'Solana' and 'Solene' celebrating the sun and moon, and is the name they gave to their daughter. Soléna Cellars first opened its doors in Carlton, OR in 2002 and their national debut began with the 2003 vintage of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris from their estate vineyard, Domaine Danielle Laurent, and select vineyard sites in Oregon. Today, Soléna produces Pinot Noir from Domaine Danielle laurent and Hyland Vineyard in Oregon's Yamhill-Carlton appellation, as well as Pinot Gris, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from select sites throughout Oregon and Washington. All of the vineyards from which they source, including the estate and the historic 100-acre Hyland Vineyard, are cropped to low yields and produce high-quality fruit. Vineyard management techniques explore all aspects of viticulture, including biodynamics.
Laurent Montalieu was a partner and winemaker at WillaKenzie Estate for 8 years before leaving in 2003 to focus on Soléna Cellars. Currently, he is also the winemaker and co-founder of the Northwest Wine Company in McMinnville and a founding partner in Grand Cru Estates.
A tasting room is now open at Grand Cru Estates in the Yamhill-Carlton District. There is a second tasting room in Carlton. Check website for hours. The wines are sold on the website. I can highly recommend the Pinot Noirs and Pinot Gris.
Articles About Soléna Estate
Reviewed Wines
2007 Soléna Grande Cuvée Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5 alc., 3,500 cases, $25. Sourced from several
sub-appellations of the Willamette Valley including the estate vineyard, Domaine Danielle Laurent. 100% destemmed,
cold macerated, punched down by hand, 20 days skin contact, aged 6 months in 17% new French
oak barrels, unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately dark reddish-purple color. Shy aromas of strawberries with
accents of savory herbs and oak cask. A middle weight wine sporting dark red berry fruit that is silky and
discreetly rich in the mouth with deft notes of oak. Softly textured with supple tannins for early drinking.
Decent.
Reviewed February 15, 2010
ARTICLE »
2007 Soléna Domaine Danielle Laurent Yamhill-Carlton District Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., 350 cases, $45.
Seventh vintage from this biodynamically-farmed 80-acre vineyard that is densely planted and located adjacent
Shea Vineyard. Clones are Pommard and Dijon 115, 667, 777 and 828. High percentage of stems removed,
6-day cold soak, 25 days of skin contact, fermented in small lots in rotary barrels (barrels are rotated for “punch
down” effect to gently extract color and tannins), aged 11 months in 33% new French oak barrels from a variety
of coopers, unfined and unfiltered.
·
The nose is more savory than fruity with hints of oak toast, wet leaves and
barnyard. The flavors trend to fresh wild berries matched with plenty of toasty oak that surfaces notably on the
finish. Silky textured with complimentary fine tannins. The lovely fruit just can’t surface above the noise from
the oak. Cellaring may allow more oak integration. For now, it is just decent.
Reviewed February 15, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 Soléna Grande Cuvée Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 3,500
cases, $22 (winery retail is $25), Vacu-Seal (glass). Crafted by Laurent Montalieu
and Danielle Andrus Montalieu from vineyard sites throughout the Willamette Valley
including the Estate vineyard Domaine Danielle Laurent. Grapes were fermented in
small lots with total of 20 days of skin contact. Aged 6 months in 17% new French
oak barrels.
·
Unfined and unfiltered. Shy but pleasant scents of red and even
tropical fruits. Satisfying core of red berry and red plum fruit with some underlying
earthiness. Nicely composed and harmonious with fine-grained tannins.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Soléna Willakia Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.63, 97 cases, $35. Pommard and Dijon
clones. 100% de-stemmed, cold maceration for 8 days, fermented in rotary barrels, aged 15 months in 50%
new French oak, unfined and unfiltered.
·
Very shy aromatics with little to report other than faint purple fruits and
a hint of smoke. Delicious dark stone fruit core that is rich and satisfying wrapped in husky tannins. Very
smooth and sensual in the mouth with a perfect rift of acidity. Solid, but not exceptional, and lacks aromatic
interest. Very good (-).
Reviewed February 15, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 Soléna Hyland Vineyard McMinnville Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., pH 3.33,
$45. This 120-acre vineyard planted in 1970 and purchased by the Montalieus
in 2007. Soils are volcanic Jory and some Nekia. The vineyard contains both
own-rooted old-growth plantings and newer, grafted Pinot Noir clones. Grapes
were de-stemmed, 6-day cold soak, fermented in rotary barrels, aged 15 months
in 215 new French oak, unfined and unfiltered.
·
Very subdued aromatics with
delicate floral and berry scents. Impressive infusion of berry jam on the palate
with oak in the background. Smooth and harmonious with supple tannins,
snappy acidity and moderate persistence on the finish. A sophisticated wine of
great interest. Very good.
Reviewed February 15, 2010
ARTICLE »
2007 Soléna Grande Cuvée Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5 alc., 3,500 cases, $25. Sourced from several sub-appellations of the Willamette Valley including the estate vineyard, Domaine Danielle Laurent. 100% destemmed, cold macerated, punched down by hand, 20 days skin contact, aged 6 months in 17% new French oak barrels, unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color. Shy aromas of strawberries with accents of savory herbs and oak cask. A middle weight wine sporting dark red berry fruit that is silky and discreetly rich in the mouth with deft notes of oak. Softly textured with supple tannins for early drinking. Decent. Reviewed February 15, 2010 ARTICLE »
2007 Soléna Domaine Danielle Laurent Yamhill-Carlton District Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., 350 cases, $45. Seventh vintage from this biodynamically-farmed 80-acre vineyard that is densely planted and located adjacent Shea Vineyard. Clones are Pommard and Dijon 115, 667, 777 and 828. High percentage of stems removed, 6-day cold soak, 25 days of skin contact, fermented in small lots in rotary barrels (barrels are rotated for “punch down” effect to gently extract color and tannins), aged 11 months in 33% new French oak barrels from a variety of coopers, unfined and unfiltered. · The nose is more savory than fruity with hints of oak toast, wet leaves and barnyard. The flavors trend to fresh wild berries matched with plenty of toasty oak that surfaces notably on the finish. Silky textured with complimentary fine tannins. The lovely fruit just can’t surface above the noise from the oak. Cellaring may allow more oak integration. For now, it is just decent. Reviewed February 15, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 Soléna Grande Cuvée Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 3,500 cases, $22 (winery retail is $25), Vacu-Seal (glass). Crafted by Laurent Montalieu and Danielle Andrus Montalieu from vineyard sites throughout the Willamette Valley including the Estate vineyard Domaine Danielle Laurent. Grapes were fermented in small lots with total of 20 days of skin contact. Aged 6 months in 17% new French oak barrels. · Unfined and unfiltered. Shy but pleasant scents of red and even tropical fruits. Satisfying core of red berry and red plum fruit with some underlying earthiness. Nicely composed and harmonious with fine-grained tannins. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Soléna Willakia Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.63, 97 cases, $35. Pommard and Dijon clones. 100% de-stemmed, cold maceration for 8 days, fermented in rotary barrels, aged 15 months in 50% new French oak, unfined and unfiltered. · Very shy aromatics with little to report other than faint purple fruits and a hint of smoke. Delicious dark stone fruit core that is rich and satisfying wrapped in husky tannins. Very smooth and sensual in the mouth with a perfect rift of acidity. Solid, but not exceptional, and lacks aromatic interest. Very good (-). Reviewed February 15, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 Soléna Hyland Vineyard McMinnville Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., pH 3.33, $45. This 120-acre vineyard planted in 1970 and purchased by the Montalieus in 2007. Soils are volcanic Jory and some Nekia. The vineyard contains both own-rooted old-growth plantings and newer, grafted Pinot Noir clones. Grapes were de-stemmed, 6-day cold soak, fermented in rotary barrels, aged 15 months in 215 new French oak, unfined and unfiltered. · Very subdued aromatics with delicate floral and berry scents. Impressive infusion of berry jam on the palate with oak in the background. Smooth and harmonious with supple tannins, snappy acidity and moderate persistence on the finish. A sophisticated wine of great interest. Very good. Reviewed February 15, 2010 ARTICLE »
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