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La Solitude Chateauneuf du Pape White
Kevin's comments: Citrus tones combined with honey; long and full-flavoured.
Chateau Tasting Notes
Chateauneuf-du-Pape is much the biggest and most important specific Rhone appellation that covers 7,400 acres of vines. Small crops are mandatory. Concentration is the very essence of this wine. Its vines grow in what looks like a shingle beach of big, smooth, oval stones that often cover the whole surface of the vineyard. Each vine is an individual bush.
The Solitude Estate belongs to one of the oldest families in Chateauneuf du Pape. The Lancon family makes their wines with a very short maceration time and therefore their style of Chateauneuf is ready to drink much younger than the traditional tough wine. Their 100 acres are planted in a simplified mixture of Grenache, Cinsault, Mouvedre and Syrah. The family also owns 100 acres of vineyards at Sabran in the Cotes du Rhone.
60% of La Solitude's production is exported to the USA, Great Britain, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and recently to Asia
Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne
Note:
The grapes are compulsory sorted at harvest. Each picker has 2 buckets and whilst picking sorts the grapes harvested under the strict supervision of the head picker. Only the best grapes are used.
Winemaking:
Immediate pressing of the grapes. Cold settling of the juice. Fermentation takes place in temperature controlled tanks. After racking the wine is aged on lees in small tanks with regular stirrings. The wine is bottled in the spring following the harvest.
Serve:
Chilled to accompany fish and seafood dishes, white meats and creamy pasta and rice dishes.
Tasting Notes:
Citrus tones combined with honey, long and full-flavoured.
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