Cornelia Constanza 2018 – Domaine de La Solitude.
Domaine de la Solitude is one of the historical wineries in France’s illustrious Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. We had the pleasure of interviewing them in Season 2 Episode 2 of our talk show Cellar Talks. Click here to learn all about this Domaine and the Châteauneuf du Pape region. For this review we enjoyed another outstanding wine by Domaine de la Solitude: Cornelia Constanza, made from 100% Grenache.
About the Winery
“Domaine de la Solitude” belongs to one of the oldest families of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, whose roots go back to the 15th century, being linked the illustrious Barberini family from Tuscany. Eight generations later the Estate is still a family affair.
About the Wine
Cornelia Constanza is a tribute to the last Princess Barberini and a true delight for Grenache lovers. It is a single vineyard wine, being made solely from vines that are over a hundred years old. The plot is situated on the slopes leading up to the “La Crau” plateau, a legendary area in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This great terroir is always vinified separately, but only in excellent years (5 vintages of the last 10) the Cornelia Constanza is bottled. The wine is raised partially in oak and concrete and ages for 18 months.
In the glass a ruby red color accompanied by a gorgeous nose. Boosting black cherry, liquorice and tons of spices (pepper) it captivates you at the first encounter. The wine itself is not heavy but true to its core, with a nice rich body. The winemaking has ensured great balance, combing dense texture with silky tannins. Finishing it off it has great legs with a hint of chocolate that carry you away.
Our conclusion: With just 3,000 bottles produced this wine isn’t widely available, but highly recommended. Suitable for ageing, although we loved the freshness of the fruit in these early years. Best to be enjoyed in the first decade upon release. A true gem which we happily reward with a 95-point DWA score.
This wine is available through Dutch importer Jean Arnaud.
Price: ~ €70,00
Taste date: April 2022
Score: 95/100 DWA Score
Website: Domaine de La Solitude