Flora Springs Soliloquy White 2018
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The Sauvignon Blanc-based 2018 Soliloquy is a complex, multi-layered blend of white varieties offering exotic flavors of passion fruit, pomelo, lime, coconut and green apple along with a lovelybouquet of jasmine, honeysuckle and citrus flower. The Sauvignon Blanc anchors the wine with bold flavors, zesty acidity and serious weight, while the Chardonnay rounds out the blend with acreamy leesy quality. The Pinot Gris and Malvasia animate the blend with alluring citrus and floral notes. Soliloquy is an impressive wine that can handle boldly-flavored foods; it would be aworthy companion to seafood chowders, lobster-stuffed raviolis, roast chicken with lemon and rosemary or Cajun-style barbecue shrimp.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Smooth texture, bright and crisp with peach and citrus notes; a blend that is mostly Sauvignon Blanc; lovely, with complexity and depth, long and balanced, stylish and long.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Soliloquy is blended of 44% Sauvignon Blanc, 41% Chardonnay, 10% Malvasia and 5% Pinot Gris. It displays beautifully perfumed notes of orange blossoms, fresh ginger and marzipan over a core of white peaches, applesauce and baking bread plus a waft of wild thyme. Medium-bodied, elegant and with a satiny texture, it delivers a quiet intensity of stone fruit and apple layers, finishing long and fragrant. Rating: 93+
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James Suckling
Dried apple and lavender with hints of peach pit and almonds. Full-bodied, flavorful and focused. Cool white blend. 44% sauvignon blanc, 41% chardonnay, 10% malvasia and 5% pinot gris. Drink now.
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Wine Spectator
Pretty and precise, offering orange blossom, white tea and grilled peach flavors, set on a smooth and juicy frame, with a vibrant pop of acidity and lemon verbena notes that linger effortlessly. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Malvasia and Pinot Gris. Drink now.
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It all began over 20 years ago, when Jerry and Flora Komes bought the first vineyard - a vineyard with lots of history, great soils and two ghost wineries. Their retirement project became a lifetime passion for son John Komes and daughter Julie Garvey and their families. John quickly talked the family (including another brother Mike Komes) into making wine. Julie worked side by side with John as the first two years they made the wines. Julie’s husband Pat Garvey took over the vineyard side of things. In 1980, Ken Deis was hired as winemaker and he has been part of the family ever since.
Winemaker Ken Deis makes use of every tool at his disposal. First of all, he trusts his senses: The feel of the berry in his fingers, the taste of the fruit and then the wine, the smells during fermentation. A winemaker needs to understand the source of his fruit and Ken has worked closely with vineyard manager Pat Garvey for more than 20 years so that they can anticipate the challenges that each vintage brings. Ken has also adopted the same curiosity that the entire Komes-Garvey family has and it has paid off royally in the quality of his wines.
Sometimes light and crisp, other times rich and creamy, Bordeaux White Blends typically consist of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Often, a small amount of Muscadelle or Sauvignon Gris is included for added intrigue. Popularized in Bordeaux, the blend is often mimicked throughout the New World. Somm Secret—Sauternes and Barsac are usually reserved for dessert, but they can be served before, during or after a meal. Try these sweet wines as an aperitif with jamón ibérico, oysters with a spicy mignonette or during dinner alongside hearty Alsatian sausage.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.