Domaine de la Solitude

2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC Réserve Secrète

This is a magnificent wine, the tête de cuvée of this storied estate. The Réserve Secrète is 2:1 Grenache to Syrah. The centenary Grenache Noir vines hail from the estate's oldest parcel on the Western slope of the famed lieu-dit "La Crau" plateau, originally planted by Florent's great-grandfather at the beginning of the 20th century, on a sandstone terroir. The Grenache is partnered with the very exceptional Syrah parcel that flourishes on the fresh soils of Les Blachierères lieu-dit (sometimes written Blaquières), which is also a sandstone (safres) site. Vinified separately, the two combine to create a soaring, incredibly age-worthy Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Only made in when the vintage allows (only five of the last ten), the 2021 was, as always, harvested by hand in 25 kg crates, double sorted both in the vineyard and at the sorting table to keep only the best bunches, the Grenache was fermented 100% whole-cluster while the Syrah is first destemmed. Vinification took place in concrete. 45% of the wine was then racked to French oak of exceptional quality (Colbert oak from the Tronçais forest) while the rest remained in concrete where the wines aged for 20 months before being assembled and then racked to French oak foudres for another year of ageing before being bottled (without filtration or fining).