2019 Domaine de La Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape Southern Rhone

Winemaker Notes:  A bouquet nose of garrigue, flowers of cistus, blackcurrant buds. A mouth full of freshness and balance, with aromas of cocoa and Morello cherry, with a long and licorice finish. In its youth, this vintage is perfect to pair with a shoulder of lamb 12 hour cooking in oven, roast pigeon with fungi porcini and from its fifth year, stew, Daube Provencal, all game and many cheeses. Blend: 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 10% Cinsault

CRITICAL ACCLAIM

Jeb Dunnuck - "One smoking good bottle of wine, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape is 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and the rest Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Counoise that was brought up mostly in concrete tanks. It’s as drinkable and delicious as they come, offering lots of red and black fruits, dried garrigue, and spice aromatics, medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannins, and wonderful balance. It’s Provence in a bottle. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years. "


Wine Spectator - "Ripe and juicy, with a nice compact feel to the mix of raspberry compote, red licorice and red currant preserve flavors. Subtle garrigue hints dot the finish and there's a nice tarry streak as well. Needs just a touch of cellaring to coax it out fully. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Best from 2024 through 2034 "


Vinous - "Deep ruby-red. Expressive red berry and cherry aromas are complemented by building spice and licorice accents. Gently sweet and broad in the mouth, offering lively black raspberry, cherry liqueur and baking spice flavors that show no rough edges. Closes supple and long, with repeating floral and spice notes and gentle tannins that lend shape and final grip. "


Wine & Spirits - "Spicy and herbal, this has a brisk, crunchy feel to its fruit which makes it extremely palate-whetting. It’s tart and cranberry-ish, with a graphite- like minerality that firms it up. For lamb sausages. "