Domaine de la Solitude Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2020
Domaine de la Solitude
Domaine de la Solitude is one of the oldest estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and this 2020 shows why longevity matters. The Grenache-led blend lets the varietal's spiced berry character take center stage, framed by the galets roulés that define the appellation's terroir.
Kit Aromas
Nose
Dark cherry and dried violet open immediately, with a garrigue-inflected herbal undertone. Faint cedar and a spiced, almost gamey musk lurk beneath the fruit.
Palate
Full-bodied with ripe blackcurrant and cherry at the core. A streak of mint-like freshness keeps it lifted, while fine-grained tannins and a toasted quality from old oak provide structure. The Grenache dominance is unmistakable—generous and warm without tipping into heaviness.
Finish
Long and savory with lingering cherry, a touch of cedar, and a stony mineral dryness.
- Varietal
- Grenache
- Blend
- 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault
- Vineyards
- Estate vineyards across multiple Châteauneuf-du-Pape lieux-dits, galets roulés soils
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
Food Pairing
Slow-braised lamb shoulder with herbes de Provence and roasted root vegetables
Owned by the Lançon family since the 17th century, Domaine de la Solitude cultivates some of the oldest Grenache vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape across vineyards strewn with the appellation's iconic smooth river stones.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine de Montille
Domaine de Montille
Domaine de Montille's Bourgogne Rouge is a masterclass in what restraint can achieve at the regional level — no excess, no artifice, just transparent Pinot Noir from one of Burgundy's most principled estates. It embodies the theme of clarity through constraint: a wine that finds its beauty in what it withholds rather than what it offers. An essential benchmark for understanding why less, in Burgundy, is always more.
Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie
Calabretta
Calabretta's old-vine Nerello Mascalese is a masterclass in how air and altitude sculpt a wine—vineyards perched high on Etna's slopes channel wind and volcanic breath into the glass. This is traditional Etna winemaking at its most soulful: no shortcuts, no polish, just pure terroir captured by a family that has farmed the same contrada for generations. A hauntingly beautiful wine that rewards patience and contemplation.
Perrin Cotes du Rhone Reserve Rouge 2022
Perrin
The Perrin family's Réserve Rouge remains one of the Rhône's most reliable everyday reds, delivering genuine terroir character at a fraction of the cost of their Châteauneuf-du-Pape holdings. It captures the warmth of a late November harvest—generous, grounding, and quietly soulful. A wine that pairs as well with weeknight suppers as it does with the season's final fireside gatherings.
Domaine Gramenon Côtes du Rhône La Sagesse 2022
Domaine Gramenon
La Sagesse means 'wisdom,' and this bottling from very old Grenache vines is aptly named. Michèle Aubéry-Laurent farms biodynamically and vinifies with minimal intervention — native yeast, no added sulfur, no fining or filtration. This is transparency in a bottle: terroir, vine age, and vintage, nothing hidden.