Vinicola Solar Fortún

O Positivo Valle de Guadalupe Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah

Albert Phelps

9.0

Interesting flavor profile. Mild for cab and Syrah but super delicious with food. — 6 years ago

Bodegas Solar Viejo

Orube Crianza Rioja Tempranillo 2015

Noelle

9.0

Lovely, smooth, flavor — 7 years ago

Artisanal Wine Cellars

Ellis Vineyards Tempranillo 2011

Nancy Pratt

8.9

Picked this up on my Solar Eclipse trip and really liked it - 2011 vintage — 8 years ago

Bodegas Solar Viejo

Reserva Rioja Tempranillo

Rainer Kölln

8.9

Ein herrlicher Begleiter für einen schönen Abend. — 8 years ago

Boris liked this

Realm Cellars

Farella Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Mike R

9.3

The election is almost over - thank you very much - too much stress - but this wine is helping so much - dark gorgeous fruit with a taste to the tongue that makes feel so much better - then the finish comes in all seems tranquil and the solar system seems aligned again - see what wine can do - decanted 1 hour - smiling again — 8 years ago

Mike, Shawn and 33 others liked this

Weijie Shi (Jay)

Love their wines as well as their story. 🍷

TheSkip

Godspeed @Mike Rowe !

Arturo Garcia

Solar de Sael Bierzo Reserva Tempranillo

Narun P

9.0

Woodsy nose. Smooth palate. Nice red fruit. Subtle. Great now. — 9 years ago

Domaine Zind Humbrecht

Brand (Turckheim) Grand Cru Riesling 2013

Fabien Lainé

Blogger VinDeling.com

9.3

Made of some of the oldest vineyards of the estate, it is a warmer style, more solar, richer wine, dense and lively acidity - a beautiful wine 😉 — 10 years ago

Arturo Garcia

Solar de Sael Crianza Bierzo Mencía

Karl Ziegler

9.4

2007 vintage. Balanced tannins and fruit with super delicious mouth feel. Slugging wine! — 10 years ago

Solar de Estraunza

Crianza Rioja Tempranillo 2010

Patricia Kucharski

8.9

2010 vintage — 10 years ago

Solar De Samaniego

Cabeza De Cuba Gran Reserva Rioja 2005

Chiara Bernini

9.6

Reserva..apperó!!un signor rosso! — 12 years ago

with Alessandro

Solar de Estraunza

Rioja Tempranillo

Erin Ferraro

9.7

Nice little red, serve with pasta primavera after the first night of Carnaval — 12 years ago

Seavey Vineyard

Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

The nose reveals; dark currants, blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries. Black tea, expresso roast, anise, crushed dry rocks, big vanilla, clove, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, woody notes with dark fresh & withering flower bouquet.

The body is big and lush. The tannins are big, meaty and tarry. Very dark currants. Blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries & strawberries as they open up. Black tea, expresso roast, steeped fruit tea, anise, crushed dry rocks, dry clay, big graphite, big vanilla, dark spice, clove, light dry herbs, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, cedar with violets dark fresh & withering flower bouquet. The acidity is round, fresh and beautiful. The big, long, well balanced finish is excellent and look forward to having this in 15-20 years. This one will be a stunner!

Photos of, the barn where they make wine and hosts tastings, our private tasting area inside William’s old office. William desk and their outside terrace area.

Producer history & notes...Seavey Vineyard is located along Conn Valley Road in the eastern hills of Napa Valley, about 15 minutes from the valley floor.

This historical property was originally a cattle ranch. However, records indicate grapes were planted on some of the hillsides as early as the 1870’s. The stone dairy barn, still in existence, was built in 1881.

William & Mary Seavey purchased this property in 1979. The estate was originally founded by the Franco-Swiss Farming Company in 1881 which, closed down when Phylloxera destroyed their grape vines and the Volstead Act (Prohibition) went into effect. At the time of their purchase, they were a horse and cattle ranch. They quickly planted the slopes with grapes and initially sold their fruit to Raymond Vineyards. They have never purchased grapes, all their wine is made from estate grapes. Their vineyards are separated into 20 plus individual blocks.

Today, the property is about 200 total acres of which, 40 acres are planted to vine. Their hillside vineyards produce low yields of rich concentrated fruit. A small block of Chardonnay grows in a cooler lower part of their property. Besides grapes, they also raise cattle which are used to graze the hillsides. They feed the vineyard with the cattle cuttings. In 2003, they were one of the first Napa wineries to install solar.

Mary passed away in 2008 and William died in 2016. There daughter Dorie returned to the family business and now oversees the winery operations. Her brother Arthur also handles national and some small international sales, primarily to restaurants. However, most of their wine is sold direct to consumers.

Seavey’s first commercial vintage was released in 1990 a year after they renovated the stone dairy barn into a working winery. Today this stone building is the centerpiece of the property and is where tastings are hosted.

Since 2011, Jim Duane has been their day to day Winemaker. He’s worked at Robert Mondavi and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It should also be noted that Philippe Melka Winemaker/Consultant has been with Seavey since 1995...one of Philippe’s two initial wine making jobs in the Napa Valley were with Seavey and Lail Vineyards.

Seavy makes about 3,200 cases annually depending on what mother nature brings. They make around two hundred cases of Chardonnay, slightly more Merlot and the rest is of the production is comprised of their Caravina and Estate Cabernets.
— 7 years ago

Daniel, Paul and 26 others liked this

Somm David T

@Shay A Their wines were all good. This one outstanding. However, these wines are made to cellar. A long decant for these wines isn’t going to cut it. They need 10 years plus. For this one, longer. Their Merlot was one of the biggest I’ve had.

Somm David T

@Peggy Hadley Thanks for your note. Appreciate it! There wines are definitely worth it but, need a good amount of cellar time.