Clos Solène : Harmonie 2014

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for Harmonie 2014 from Clos Solène

Tasting

Appearance

The color reveals a deep ruby red hue with dark highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals a complex bouquet of red and black fruits, with notes of cherry, blackberry, and licorice. Spicy and mineral nuances gradually unfold, accompanied by subtle herbal and earthy touches.

Palate

On the palate, the wine shows a remarkable balance between concentration and elegance. Its silky texture highlights well-integrated tannins that shape the palate without aggressiveness. Aromas of ripe fruit mingle with mineral and spicy notes, offering complexity that carries through to a persistent finish with accents of pepper and earth.

Food and Wine Pairing

This wine pairs perfectly with roasted meats, especially lamb and pork. It also complements eggplant-based preparations and duck dishes enhanced with red fruits and spices. Aged cheeses are also an excellent match.

Serving and Cellaring

It is recommended to decant Harmonie 2014 before serving to allow the aromas to fully express themselves. The ideal serving temperature is between 16 and 18°C.

An Elegant, Balanced Rhône-Style Blend from Paso Robles

The Estate

Founded in 2007 by Guillaume Fabre, a sixth-generation winegrower from Languedoc-Roussillon, Clos Solène is a family estate located in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, California. Named in tribute to his wife Solène, the estate now spans 28 acres acquired in 2017. Guillaume and Solène Fabre run this boutique property together—he oversees winemaking and she handles management. The estate stands out for its limited production of elegant Rhône-style and Bordeaux-style wines, favoring quality over quantity, with a vineyard comprising ten different varieties and sixteen distinct clones.

The Vineyard

The Harmonie 2014 vineyard is planted on the western side of Paso Robles, in the Willow Creek District, about twelve miles from the Pacific Ocean. This maritime proximity creates diurnal temperature swings of up to 50 degrees, encouraging the development of complex aromas while preserving the grapes’ natural acidity. The soils, of marine origin dating back to the Miocene epoch, are rich in calcium carbonate and dissolved minerals, giving the wine its distinctive mineral signature. The vines benefit from a southwest-facing exposure on slopes that can exceed 30 degrees, providing optimal drainage.

The Vintage

The 2014 vintage in Paso Robles offered favorable conditions that allowed for an extended ripening period. Temperatures moderated by ocean influence enabled full phenolic development without excessive sugar accumulation, creating ideal conditions to produce balanced, structured California wines.

Winemaking and Aging

Harmonie 2014 was crafted with a meticulous approach focused on elegance. Fermentation, lasting four to six weeks, allowed complex flavors and a refined tannic structure to develop. Aging took place over 16 months in almost exclusively neutral French oak barrels, enabling the wine to build textural complexity while preserving the purity of fruit expression.

Grape Varieties

Grenache (60%)
Mourvèdre (25%)
Syrah (15%)