At Sol Rouge winery, they have a special affinity with Rhone grape varieties. Cultivating fruit from the unique terroir of Lake County in northern California, winemaker Bryan Kane crafts small-production wines that showcase the unique qualities of their vines. Here’s what our tasting panel had to say about a handful of their current offerings:
Sol Rouge 2012 Syrah
Grape(s): 100% Syrah
Region: Lake County, Ca
Price: 30-35
Tasting Notes:
Aromas of cherries, raspberries, and plums mingle with traces of all-spice, leather, and cedar on the nose. A sip delivers flavors of plum and bramble fruit that unfold into nuances of smoked meat, spice, and clove on the palate. Dark concentrated fruit and rich tannins make this a fine bottle to pair with tri-tip. 175 cases produced.
Rating: 90
Sol Rouge 2012 Mourvedre
Grape(s): 100% Mourvedre
Region: Lake County, Ca
Price: 25-30
Tasting Notes:
Notes of bramble fruit, cherry, and plum come together with nuances of earth and vanilla on the nose. With a sip, flavors of raspberries, cherries, and blackberries blend with whispers of baking spice and smoked meat. Smooth tannins and bright flavors make this a very approachable wine.
Rating: 90
Sol Rouge 2012 Petite Sirah
Grape(s): 100% Petite Sirah
Region: Lake County, Ca
Price: 30-35
Tasting Notes:
A bouquet of blueberries, plums, black cherries, and sweet spice rises up from a glass. The palate delivers flavors of cherry, plum and blueberry along with allusions of camp fire oak, clove, and dusty earth. Dark and concentrated, pair a bottle with BBQ ribs. 75 cases produced.
Rating: 89
Sol Rouge 2013 Viognier
Grape(s): 100% Viognier
Region: Lake County, Ca
Price: 30-35
Tasting Notes:
Aromatics of peaches and apricots combine with suggestions white blossoms and minerals on the nose. Notes of ripe peach, dried apricot, and crisp pear interweave with traces of orange blossoms and honey on the palate. A welcoming acidity and a round, chalky mouth-feel, make this wine well suited for grilled swordfish. 100 cases were made.
Rating: 88
Sol Rouge 2013 “Gypsy Blanc” Blend
Grape(s): Marsanne, Roussanne, & Viognier
Region: Lake County, Ca
Price: 25-30
Tasting Notes:
Fragrances of stone fruits, tropical fruits, and orange blossoms greet the senses. The palate shows flavors of ripe peach, passion fruit, and apricot that unfold into suggestions of honey, white blossoms, and minerals. With a pleasant acidity and lush mouth-feel, fans of white Rhone-style blends ought to try a bottle. 150 cases produced.
Rating: 89