The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Barberini is composed of 60% tank-aged Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre, the latter two components aged in new oak barrels. This is a more modern-styled, backward Chateauneuf with some vanillin poking through. The wine’s dense purple color resembles a Bordeaux more than a southern Rhone. It is a “l(fā)ove it or leave it” effort with completely different aromatic and flavor profiles than its siblings. With medium to full body, abundant tannin and impressive concentration, it will benefit from 2-4 years of cellaring and should keep for two decades. A rarity in Chateauneuf du Pape, this large estate has one single holding of nearly 75 acres all situated in the lieu-dit called La Solitude, which is adjacent to the famed rocky plateau of La Crau (the earliest maturing and most precocious terroir of the appellation). Most estates’ parcels are spread throughout the appellation, so this is a rare occurrence indeed. This is also one of the oldest estates in Chateauneuf du Pape, tracing its history back to the 13th century. Domaine de la Solitude has been run by the Lancon family for many decades. They were one of the first estates to estate-bottle, and I remember having a prodigious Domaine de la Solitude 1967 that was one of those formative wines that got my attention when I was a college student. They make multiple cuvees and over the last 5 or 6 years, they have shown great amelioration thanks to the efforts of Jean and Michel Lancon. No 2010s were tasted as the proprietors do not like to show unbottled wines, but I imagine they are brilliant given how well they have done in 2009, as well as with the spectacular late-released 2007s. Importer: David Shiverick, Los Angeles, CA; tel. (213) 483-5900