Domaine de la Solitude – Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Cuvee Barberini’ – 2022

PRODUCER NOTE:
Wines have been made on this estate for several hundred years, dating back to 1264 when the family arrived from Italy to serve the pope in Avignon. The three hats depicted on the label, signifies two bishops and a pope, who were among the fore fathers of the Lançon family. Today, the domain with its 38 hectares in the Châteauneuf du Pape appellation, is passing to the next generation as brothers Jean and Michel Lançon are handing over the reins to Florent, Michel’s son. Florent, who is passionate about innovative winemaking, while honouring traditional values, has recently started working with new tulip-shaped concrete vats which were initially designed for Cheval Blanc and are at the cutting edge of winemaking technology. Domaine de la Solitutude’s wines are renowned for their characteristic elegance whilst expressing the true origins of their terroir.

VINTAGE:
2022 saw a mild winter and spring, followed by colder temperatures in the early part of summer. Rainfall events during the flowering period resulted in reduced yields. However, the latter part of the summer saw warmer, drier weather which led to ideal growing conditions for the vines.

VINEYARD:
The Grenache comes from best parcels of old vines. This Domaine has one of the best terroirs in Châteauneuf-du-Pape with its abundance of rounded quartzite stones, known as “Galet Roulés” terroir, which comes from the Villafranchian period. These stones absorb heat during the day then radiate it at night, promoting full grape maturity. The grapes are manually harvested, once each variety has reached phenological ripeness, based on grape tastings by an expert panel. The grape bunches are then meticulously sorted to remove any unwanted fruit.

WINEMAKING:
This wine is made from a select parcel of old Grenache vines and is only produced in the best vintages. The grapes were manually sorted on a sorting table, before being crushed and destemmed. The fruit was transferred to the fermentation tank via gravity. A long maceration took place with gentle extraction techniques, to obtain opulent fruit characteristics and fine tannins. Approximately 60% of this wine was aged in oak barrels and demi-muids for 18 months.

TASTING NOTE:
A well textured, ripe and full-bodied wine delivering rich black fruits, mocha expresso and a subtle hint of smoke. Smooth on the palate with integrated tannins and a lingering finish, this is a traditional and elegant Châteauneuf.

GRAPE:
Grenache 80%, Syrah 20%

COUNTRY:
France

REGION:
Rhone

SUB-REGION:
Chateauneuf-du-Pape