White Notre Dame de la Solitude is the second wine of the chateau Domaine de la Solitude. The vineyards of the chateau are located in the territory of the Pessac-Léognan appellation and belong to the religious community of the Holy Family, founded in 1820 by the Bordeaux priest Pierre Bienvenu Noailles. Dedication to religion, an orphanage and work in the fields were the main activities of the sisters, but the lands they owned were also distinguished by an exceptional terroir for vines. Since 1854, he created internal management of the community’s vineyards, but in the 1970s, with the consent of the sisters, the management of the vineyards was entrusted to external structures. As a result, the vineyards of Domaine de la Solitude became part of the Graves region, and then of the prestigious Pessac-Léognan appellation. In 1993, at the request of the sisters Olivier , Bernard, owner of the famous chateau in Pessac-Léognan, Domaine de Chevalier, leased the vineyards of Domaine de la Solitude for 40 years (in French, the term is called “fermage”, this is the so-called agricultural lease, when the tenant uses the land to grow crops and make a profit and pays rent in cash or in the products of production). Today, the Domaine de la Solitude range includes two main wines – white and red, the second red wine with the Pessac-Léognan appellation Prieuré de la Solitude, pink Rosé de la Solitude with the Bordeaux Rosé appellation and red and white Notre Dame de la Solitude of the Graves appellation.
Tasting: Notre Dame de la Solitude 2020 – Graves
Notre Dame de la Solitude, appellation Graves, is the second wine of Domaine de la Solitude, which in turn has the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Classic Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon blend, a harmonious combination of a round body, depth and freshness – a classic and high-quality white Bordeaux.
Color: yellow-lemon of medium depth
Aroma: expressive, floral, slightly sweet. At first, notes of linden honey, acacia, chamomile tincture, candied lemon, lemon zest, fresh citron, apricots, dried wild flowers and hay are felt, as well as sour shades of kiwi, gooseberry and pomelo.
Taste: fresh, with a citrus attack (lemon, lemon zest, citron) and a long sour-bitter aftertaste (grapefruit). Sweet honey and floral notes (linden honey, acacia, dried flowers) are also felt, as well as tertiary notes of hay and wax. A rich, developed, but at the same time pleasant and harmonious wine with good acidity.
What to pair with: a good ensemble turned out with oysters, thanks to the acidity of the wine, but it went better with the creamy texture of risotto and hard cheeses from sheep and goat milk, as well as with white fish.
