Larkmead Solari Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
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SaleRated 97/100 by Wine Enthusiast (top 6% of their reviews).
From our sommelier team
Larkmead's flagship single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from two parcels at the southern edge of Calistoga bordering St. Helena, on a mix of Cortina gravel and Pleasanton clay soils. The wine shows blackcurrant, camphor, new leather and dried tobacco, with sweet macerated fruit, black cherry jam and bittersweet chocolate on entry, developing licorice and loamy, earthy notes with air — a broad-textured, structured Napa Cabernet driven by its gravelly vineyard character.
Larkmead is one of Napa Valley's oldest continuously family-connected estates, and became a visible leader in the industry's climate-change conversation in 2019 when then-winemaker Dan Petroski planted an experimental research block of warmer-climate grape varieties (including Aglianico, Tempranillo and Touriga Nacional) to test alternatives should Cabernet Sauvignon become less viable in Calistoga's warming climate; the 20-year research project continues today under Petroski's successor, current winemaker Avery Heelan.
Producer history
Larkmead's roots go back to 1895, when the Salmina family began farming the land near Calistoga, purchasing it outright in 1903 and building a stone winery in 1906 — placing Larkmead among the handful of great pre-Prohibition Napa estates alongside Beaulieu, Inglenook and Beringer. The Solari family acquired the estate in 1948, and today the 110–115-acre property is stewarded by the Solari-Baker family (Cam Baker and Kate Solari Baker). Dan Petroski, who joined the estate in 2006 and served as winemaker from 2013, drove a modern refinement of the estate's viticulture and cellar practice, including the 2019 climate-change research block, before departing in 2021; Avery Heelan, who joined Larkmead in 2019 and was promoted to winemaker in July 2021, is the estate's current winemaker.
Signature pairings
- Grilled dry-aged ribeye steak — Firm tannins and dark fruit intensity are built for the char and fat of a well-marbled grilled steak.
- Braised short ribs with root vegetables — The wine's structure and dark chocolate/tobacco notes complement the richness and umami of slow-braised beef.
- Hard aged cheeses such as aged cheddar or gouda — Firm tannin and dark fruit pair well with the salt and umami of aged, hard cheeses, a classic match for structured Cabernet.
Larkmead Estate's 2018 Solari Cabernet Sauvignon from Calistoga showcases the full-bodied character and structural complexity expected of premium Napa Valley fruit. Dominant blackcurrant and dark plum aromatics are complemented by pronounced cedar and vanilla oak, with supporting black pepper spice. The wine's high tannin profile and medium-high acidity provide excellent aging framework, while tertiary notes of tobacco and leather suggest evolution potential. A classically styled Cabernet built for the cellar and the table.
Details
- Country
- USA
- Region
- California
- Subregion
- Napa Valley
- Variety
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Vintage
- 2018
- Bottle size
- 750 ml
Taste profile
- Body
- Full
- Acidity
- Medium-High
- Tannin
- High
Pairs well with
- Grilled red meat & steak
- Lamb dishes
- Game meats
- Hard & aged cheese
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