This wine reminds winemaker Guillaume Fabre of how different winemaking in France would have been since this blend is not permitted in Bordeaux. The fruit is picked from several west side vineyards in the Willow Creek and Adelaida Districts. The Cabernet Sauvignon is fermented separately in concrete tanks to showcase the minerality and freshness that Cabernet can bring to a Rhone blend. The Syrah and Grenache are fermented in 400L barrels, 40% new French oak, and is aged for 16 months in large 400L barrels to further integrate the fruit with a softer yet chalky palate feel. This wine has a soft and elegant side, bringing classy tannins and approachability.
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 94 POINTS - "Guillaume Fabre is now the owner of the property formerly known as Pipestone Vineyards, which comprises 28 acres in the prime Willow Creek area of Paso Robles. Eight acres are currently under vine and another ten are slated for planting in the coming years, with adjustments planned for the parts of the property that are already planted. There's also room for expanding the current winemaking facility, which will soon replace Fabre’s current operation in the Tin City area just south of downtown Paso Robles. He told me that with 18 acres he'll have more than enough to keep him busy and doesn't plan to take on any more consulting gigs as he wants to be fully focused on "realizing the potential of this site" which features a dramatic uphill slope behind his new house, winery and tasting room."
"(40% new oak) Bright violet. Fresh cherry, blueberry and vanilla on the highly perfumed nose, along with building licorice, tobacco and mocha nuances. Concentrated and alluringly sweet, showing impressive depth to the sweet black and blue fruit, vanilla and spicecake flavors. In a lush, open-knit but lively style, delivering impressive finishing punch, youthful tannins and a suave, lingering floral quality."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 93 POINTS - "I was very impressed by these wines from Guillaume Fabre, a talented and passionate young Frenchman who worked for some time at L'Aventure. Most of Fabre's reds are more or less entirely barrel fermented, which seems to limit the temperature of fermentation and extent of extraction, generally resulting in plush, velvety tannins. I certainly appreciated the wines for their textural, gourmand quality. Fabre also succeeds in capturing plenty of savory nuance and complexity along with all the exuberantly ripe fruit of which Paso Robles is capable, something that's very welcome."
"A blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Grenache, the 2015 Fleur de Solene reveals expressive aromas of luscious cassis, cocoa and ripe blackberry. On the palate, it's full-bodied, supple and succulent with juicy acids—despite its lavish, textural attack—and fine-grained, surprisingly chalky structuring tannins. Follow it for the coming decade."
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 94 POINTS - "Guillaume Fabre is now the owner of the property formerly known as Pipestone Vineyards, which comprises 28 acres in the prime Willow Creek area of Paso Robles. Eight acres are currently under vine and another ten are slated for planting in the coming years, with adjustments planned for the parts of the property that are already planted. There's also room for expanding the current winemaking facility, which will soon replace Fabre’s current operation in the Tin City area just south of downtown Paso Robles. He told me that with 18 acres he'll have more than enough to keep him busy and doesn't plan to take on any more consulting gigs as he wants to be fully focused on "realizing the potential of this site" which features a dramatic uphill slope behind his new house, winery and tasting room."
"(40% new oak) Bright violet. Fresh cherry, blueberry and vanilla on the highly perfumed nose, along with building licorice, tobacco and mocha nuances. Concentrated and alluringly sweet, showing impressive depth to the sweet black and blue fruit, vanilla and spicecake flavors. In a lush, open-knit but lively style, delivering impressive finishing punch, youthful tannins and a suave, lingering floral quality."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 93 POINTS - "I was very impressed by these wines from Guillaume Fabre, a talented and passionate young Frenchman who worked for some time at L'Aventure. Most of Fabre's reds are more or less entirely barrel fermented, which seems to limit the temperature of fermentation and extent of extraction, generally resulting in plush, velvety tannins. I certainly appreciated the wines for their textural, gourmand quality. Fabre also succeeds in capturing plenty of savory nuance and complexity along with all the exuberantly ripe fruit of which Paso Robles is capable, something that's very welcome."
"A blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Grenache, the 2015 Fleur de Solene reveals expressive aromas of luscious cassis, cocoa and ripe blackberry. On the palate, it's full-bodied, supple and succulent with juicy acids—despite its lavish, textural attack—and fine-grained, surprisingly chalky structuring tannins. Follow it for the coming decade."
