The forefathers of this domaine came to France from Italy in 1264 to serve the Pope in Avignon. The connection with the church endured for centuries with two bishops and a pope in the family tree.
The designs on their traditional label pay homage to their ancestors - the three hats of the aforementioned clergy, the three bees - an element from the middle ages and the medal awarded by Napoleon to a family member after the Battle of Waterloo.
Today the estate has expanded to 38 hectares all, extremely unusually, as a single holding in the lieu-dit of La Solitude adjacent to the rocky plateau of La Crau.
The domaine produces 4 Red Chateauneuf-du-Pape cuvees. Cuvee Tradition is the regular wine and there are three Prestige Cuvees...
Cuvee Barberini is named after the forefather Francois Barberini, the first in the line, and Maffeo Barberini who became Pope Urbain VIII. It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre from the oldest vines and is only produced in top vintages. First vintage was 1999.
Cuvee Cornelia Constanza is named after another ancestor. It is 100% Grenache from 100+ year old vines. Only around 3,000 bottles are produced and only in top years. First produced in 2005.
Cuvee Reserve Secrete. A powerful, sumptuous wine made from around half Syrah and Grenache with a little Mourvedre. Around two thirds of the wine is aged in new barriques for 16 months. First vintage was 2000.
To introduce their wines to Australia Domaine de La Solitude has offered us a quite magnificent selection of back vintages of their three Prestige Cuvees taken from museum stocks. The wines go back to 2000 and show just how consistent the domaine is.
We don't have large quantities so we have made the wines into an outstanding Mixed Dozen.
Where else can you get premium aged Chateauneuf, with high ratings, direct from the domaine's cellars? This is an offer not to be missed!
Each dozen comprises one bottle each of:
Cuvee Barberini
2000 Wine Spectator 92 Points
2001 Robert Parker 93 Points
2004 Robert Parker 92 Points
2009 The Rhone Report 93 Points
2010 The Rhone Report 94 Points
Cuvee Cornelia Constanzia
2009 The Rhone Report 94+ Points
2010 The Rhone Report 98 Points
Cuvee Reserve Secrete
2004 Robert Parker 93+ Points
2005 The Rhone Report 96 Points
2006 The Rhone Report 96 Points
2009 The Rhone Report 95 Points
2010 The Rhone Report 98 Points
This Prestige Dozen would normally cost $2069.00
Pre Arrival Price is just
$1758.00