Grenache 50%, Syrah 40%, Mourvèdre 10%

Food pairings: grilled red meats or rosemary crusted lamb, smoked pork loin, cured meats like prosciutto and bresaola, medium-aged cheeses such as Gouda, Manchego, or a mild Comté

ABOUT THE PRODUCER
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 forefathers of the Lançon family. The 38-hectare domain in the Châteauneuf du Pape appellation is now run by Florent Lançon, who cultivates the estate sustainably, as certified by Terra Vitis. 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 Solitude’s wines are renowned for their characteristic elegance whilst expressing the true origins of their terroir.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD
The Côtes du Rhône vineyards are situated mainly in Gard, with over 50% of the grapes coming from Côtes du Rhône Villages vineyards; the remainder coming from the named parcels of Plan de Dieu and Rasteau. The grapes used to make this wine are grown in the stony, limestone and clay terroirs typical of the southern Rhône Valley.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS
The grapes were fully destemmed. Fermentation took place in temperature controlled concrete tanks, with maceration lasting 25 days. Gentle extraction techniques such as pumping over or ‘remontage’, were used to retain the purity of fruit and obtain the velvety tannins which are characteristic of Domaine de la Solitude. The wine was matured in 100% in concrete tank, as per the traditional vinification of the region.