Visit to Grand Cru Estates & Solena Cellars – 11/12/09

This is what we all live for! On a misty, cool and drizzle-laden morning, the wine bar staff met out at Grand Cru Estates (the high profile project involving Laurent Montalieu, his wife Danielle, as well as Tony Rynders.) For those of you who are fans of the Domaine Serene wines, you’ll be glad to hear that Tony will be launching his own wine very soon, as well as making wines for a select few clients (more to follow on that).

Our dear friend, Emily Stoller-Smith, Grand Cru Estate’s and Solena Cellars’ Hospitality Director, welcomed us to the facility and explained in great detail the concept and vision behind this one-of a-kind, luxuriously appointed facility. Grand Cru Estates will be the new home of Solena Cellars, Laurent Montalieu’s winery, and also act as a custom crush outfit for Grand Cru clients. With a range of different membership levels to choose from, these elite few will have access to different vineyards and a whole slough of winemaking tools to craft a very unique and individual wine that will be custom labeled just for them. That, as well as either Tony or Laurent acting as their personal winemaking consultant promises a pretty intriguing draw.

Tasting through the Solena current releases, there were quite a few wines that stood out. First, the 2008 Pinot Gris was better than ever – always a bit more of a tropical tone than most northern Willamette Valley versions with a great acid to balance it out and keep it fresh and lively. The 2007 Grand Cuvée Pinot Noir is beautiful and a great value at $26. One newcomer to their lineup that I was very excited to taste was the tiny production ’06 Guadalupe Vineyard Pinot Noir. This Yamhill-Carlton site has been a staple vineyard for Ken Wright Cellars and it was very intriguing to see what Laurent did with this highly sought after fruit. It was at one time rich & intense showing dark fruit; this is impeccably made Pinot Noir. Under a hundred cases bottled and an absolute steal at $38! Their flagship Pinot is Laurent and Danielle’s estate bottling, 2006 Domaine Danielle Laurent Pinot Noir. Structured for long term aging, it was equally impressive how well it showed at this youthful state. Beautiful floral aromas, velvety texture and focused, rounded tannins. Laurent is indeed one of America’s most talented winemakers!

The Grand Cru project is a very exciting feather in the Willamette Valley’s cap. The next time you’re out and about in the valley, you really need to visit this stunning winery. As the highest Michelin restaurant ratings are defined, this experience is absolutely worthy of a detour!