--- title: 2023 Solaksen Pinot Noir date: 2026-10-12T15:24:00-07:00 author: Leah Bobson canonical_url: "https://tenorwines.com/wines/pinot-noir/solaksen-pinot-noir/2023-solaksen-pinot-noir" section: Wines --- ![Solaksen Pinot Noir](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/bottleShots/_300x1000_crop_center-center_82_line_ns/Tenor-Pinot-Noir-Solaksen-750ml-Front-2023-HD.png) [ Buy Now$145](https://shop.mercerwineestates.com/product/2023-tenor-pinot-noir-solaksen) Labeled Appellation [Royal Slope](https://tenorwines.com/vineyards/royal-slope) Vineyard(s) Solaksen Varietal(s) 100% Pinot Noir Vinification Fermented for 10 days in 100% oak barrels with 20% whole cluster inclusion. A faster, warmer fermentation but the must was left on skins for 30 days of extended maceration. Aged 23 months in 100% new oak. Alcohol 14.7% Cases Produced 48 Vintage Notes ## A Powerful Personality The 2023 Tenor Solaksen Vineyard Pinot Noir isn't interested in playing the delicate card. Sourced exclusively from Solaksen Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA, this 100% Pinot Noir brings a darker, more powerful personality to a variety often celebrated for its elegance. Concentrated dark fruit, intriguing spice, and serious texture make one thing clear: this Pinot has a little attitude, and we're here for it. After four vintages with their fair share of drama, 2023 was a welcome return to normal. Typical timing. Typical yields. Typical harvest dates. Boring? Maybe. We loved every minute of it. A warm May erased a slow start to spring, while steady summer conditions and a cooler finish gave the fruit time to develop exceptional flavor and maturity without being rushed. For the winemaking team, that consistency was a gift—great wine was simply easier to make. Hand-harvested in October, the fruit underwent a faster, warmer 10-day fermentation entirely in oak barrels, with 20% whole-cluster inclusion to bring added complexity and structure. The wine then spent a total of 30 days in contact with the grape skins, building depth, concentration, and texture. From there, it was aged for 23 months in 100% new oak, allowing its bold character to develop additional richness and polish. The result is a Pinot Noir with some serious presence. Layers of black plum, brambleberry, and dark spice meet hints of star anise, sassafras, and cola. Plush and generously textured, the palate carries a savory edge and a lingering, sophisticated finish. It's powerful without losing its composure, proving that Pinot Noir can have both finesse and a little muscle. Bottled on September 8, 2025, just two barrels were produced, yielding a mere 48 cases. Dark, layered, and unapologetically expressive—Solaksen is Pinot Noir that refuses to play by the rules. [ ![](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/wineImages/_960x640_crop_center-center_82_line_ns/Tenor-May-Solasken-Landscape-Reva-Keller-6728_2026-10-12-221930_hkfj.jpg) ](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/wineImages/_1200x800_crop_center-center_82_line_ns/Tenor-May-Solasken-Landscape-Reva-Keller-6728_2026-10-12-221930_hkfj.jpg)[ ![](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/wineImages/_960x1439_crop_center-center_82_line_ns/Tenor-May-Solasken-Portrait-Reva-Keller-7063.jpg) ](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/wineImages/_1200x1799_crop_center-center_82_line_ns/Tenor-May-Solasken-Portrait-Reva-Keller-7063.jpg)[ ![](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/wineImages/_960x1440_crop_center-center_82_line_ns/Tenor-October-Harvest-Solasken-Reva-Keller-7337.jpg) ](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/wineImages/_1200x1800_crop_center-center_82_line_ns/Tenor-October-Harvest-Solasken-Reva-Keller-7337.jpg)[ ![](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/wineImages/_960x639_crop_center-center_82_line_ns/Tenor-October-Harvest-Solasken-Reva-Keller-7553.jpg) ](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/wineImages/_1200x799_crop_center-center_82_line_ns/Tenor-October-Harvest-Solasken-Reva-Keller-7553.jpg) Expert Reviews & Scores ### Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com 93 / 100 > “Minimal stem inclusion figured into the mix in making the 2023 Pinot Noir Solaksen Vineyard, from vines planted to standard Dijon clones. It’s darker-fruited and much richer than the Conner Lee, with outstanding textural complexity. Medium to full-bodied, oak aging was over 23 months in larger French oak barriques. Dark fruit and dark spice dominate, with a finishing touch of cola. Drink now through 2030.” ### Jeremy Young, International Wine Report 93 / 100 > “The 2023 Tenor Solaksen Vineyard Pinot Noir, Royal Slope, reveals a concentrated garnet depth that transitions to a shimmering magenta rim. This bottling displays significant textural density and a darker fruit profile than its siblings, benefiting from a modest addition of stems and nearly two years of maturation in large-format French oak. Heady notes of black plum and star anise lead the experience, while the medium-to-full-bodied palate is defined by a plush, multi-layered mouthfeel. Sassafras and bramble-berry linger on the sophisticated finish, providing a savory counterpoint.” Trade Materials - [ Tech Sheet](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/wineTradeAssets/2023-Tenor-Solaksen-Pinot-Noir-TS-with-review.pdf) - [ Bottle Shot](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/wineTradeAssets/Tenor-Pinot-Noir-Solaksen-750ml-Front-2023-HD.png) - [ Front Label](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/wineTradeAssets/Tenor-Solaksen-23-Pinot-Noir_Front_COLA.jpg) - [ Back Label](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tenor/wineTradeAssets/Tenor-Solaksen-23-Pinot-Noir_Back_COLA.jpg) [ Buy Now$145](https://shop.mercerwineestates.com/product/2023-tenor-pinot-noir-solaksen)