[Pre-Arrival] Domaine de la Solitude Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Barberini 2016

PRE-ARRIVAL SPECIAL:
Stock due to arrive early November 2022; orders will be dispatched on arrival

Accolades:
96/100 – Jeb Dunnuck
94/100 – Wine Enthusiast
94/100 – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“Darker colored and more modern in style, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Barberini is a parcel selection of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Mourvèdre, aged in 40% new oak. Despite the new oak, it stays firmly planted in the southern Rhône and is a rich, opulent, gorgeously layered wine. With some background oak in its blackberries, cassis, toasted spice, and graphite aromas and flavors as well as a touch of chocolate, it’s full-bodied, powerful, and concentrated on the palate, with terrific balance and length. It’s approachable today but will be better in 2-3 years and keep for two decades.” – Jeb Dunnuck

“Restrained blackberry and granite aromas intensify on the palate of this rich, lusciously concentrated blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Black-fruit flavors are fresh and pure, anchored by cool mineral tones and a square frame of fine, persistent tannins. Attractive already this should improve through 2026 and hold further.” – Wine Enthusiast

“A wine that includes an unusually high proportion of Syrah (45%), the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Barberini also includes 45% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre. Peppery notes accent cherries, raspberries and stone fruit in this full-bodied, rich wine that turns tannic on the finish yet remains fresh and clean. Give it two years in the cellar and then drink it over the next 10.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Tasting Notes: A powerful nose, which mixes aromas of tobacco, violet, milk caramel. A velvety mouth with aromas of liquorice and morello cherry, with a lingering chocolate finish. The grenaches come from old vines planted on the high Quaternary alluvial terraces surrounding the estate. These famous soils of pebbles of quartzites and clays, they give the Cuvée Barberini a great tannic and aromatic power. 45% Grenache noir, 45% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre.

Winemaking: Harvesting is done by hand in 25 kg crates. After a double selection of the best bunches in the vineyard then on a sorting table, the grapes are crushed and partially destemmed. They are vinified by gravity in concrete vats. Long macerations with gentle extractions provide these tannins both powerful and velvetines. This vintage is aged for 60% in barrels and half barrels for 18 months and 40% in concrete vats. The wine is bottled without filtration or fining.

Alcohol: 15.0%

Variety: Grenache/Syrah blend

Region: Chateauneuf-de-pape AOC, France