2018 Clos Solene Fleur de Solene
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Tasting notes
Opaque violet. Spice-accented, sharply focused blueberry and cherry qualities on the nose, along with hints of pungent flowers and cola. Deep and fleshy but lively as well, offering juicy black/blue fruit and floral pastille flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. The spicy note comes back strong on the gently tannic finish, which hangs on with strong, floral-driven tenacity. 25% new French oak.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
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The 2018 Fleur de Solène is a blend of 53% Syrah, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Grenache, aged 18 months in 30% new oak. It has a deep ruby-purple color and notes of tar and soil that open to cassis, dried violet and aniseed aromas. The medium to full-bodied palate has a good ripeness level—not over the top—finely grained, accented by mineral notions and finishing with loads of freshness. This has the structure to age well in bottle, so give it another 2-3 years. 420 cases produced.
The 2018 Fleur de Solene checks in as 53% Syrah, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Grenache from a handful of sites in the Willow Creek District and spent 18 months in 20% new French oak. Beautiful cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as notes of white flowers, spicy oak, and ground pepper all emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and elegant on the palate, with terrific tannins. It's already hard to resist, yet I think it will be even better with 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade.