Domaine de la Solitude Pessac Leognan Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Domaine de Solitude

Learn everything about Domaine de la Solitude, Pessac Leognan with wine tasting notes, and wine with food pairing tips. Learn about the best vintages, wine ratings, a history of the property, information on vineyards, along with wine tasting reviews. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Domaine de la Solitude History, Overview

Domaine de la Solitude dates back to the 1820s when the estate was known as The Hermitage, a monastic order. In fact, the estate now does double duty as both a monastic order and a vineyard. This really began to take place starting in 1993, when Olivier Bernard, of Domaine de Chevalier, agreed to manage the estate for a term of at least 40 years in a leasing agreement.

This was followed by another, updated, long-term leasing arrangement in 2009 when Olivier Bernard agreed to a similar arrangement with the owner of Lespault-Martillac which is also situated in the Pessac Leognan appellation.

Domaine de la Solitude Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 32-hectare vineyard of Domaine de la Solitude has 25 hectares of vines reserved for red wine grapes which are planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

7 hectares of vines are used for the production of white Bordeaux wine and those are planted to 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon.

To produce the white Bordeaux wine of Domaine de la Solitude, vinification takes place in French oak barrels. The wine is aged on its lees for 9 months with stirring.

Domaine de La Solitude was certified 100% biodynamic in 2023 for white wine and in 2024 for red wines.

There is no skin contact or malolactic fermentation. The white Bordeaux wine of Domaine de la Solitude is aged in an average of 15% new, French oak barrels for between 9 and 10 months, depending on the character of the vintage.

To produce the red wine of Domaine de la Solitude, the wines are vinified in traditional cement vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels. The wine is aged in an average of 25% new, French oak barrels for an average of 14 months before bottling.

The wines of Domaine de la Solitude are produced by the same team that makes the wine of Domaine de Chevalier. The average annual production of Domaine de la Solitude is 12,000 cases of wine per year. There is a second wine, Prieure La Solitude.

The Best Vintages of Domaine de la Solitude are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010 and 2009. Although it is important to note that vintages can vary as to their quality between the white wine and the reds with as in some years, the reds are markedly better and in other vintages the whites are superior.

The wines of Domaine de la Solitude are not sold as futures. They are only available after they are bottled. Most of the production is sold in France.

When to Drink Domaine de la Solitude, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Domaine de la Solitude is usually better with 1-3 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. In the best years, the wine will be best between 10-15 years of age after the vintage. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1 hour or so.

This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Serving Domaine de la Solitude with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Domaine de la Solitude is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. The wine will also gently warm in the glass, releasing its aromatics. Older vintages might also need decanting, for both aerating and removing the sediment.

The red wine of Domaine de la Solitude is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted braised, and grilled dishes. The wine is also a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

The white wine of Domaine de la Solitude is pairs well with wine to serve with shellfish, sashimi, sushi, all types of seafood, chicken, veal, pork, and cheese.

For the 2015 vintage, the owner, Olivier Bernard was chosen to make wine from what is probably the oldest grapevine in Bordeaux, La Vigne Bicentenaire. The vine used for the grapes is not planted in a vineyard. It’s actually placed in the city center of Bordeaux, in the Place de la Victoire.

The grape variety, Txakoli Noir, is an oddity in Bordeaux as it’s thought to have come from the Basque country. This special vine is more than 200 years old. Although it is quite rare, there are other pre-phylloxera vines in Bordeaux in both the Medoc and the Right Bank. Those pre-phylloxera vines are planted in vineyards and they are still producing grapes for wine in the Place de la Victoire.

Since the 1970s, 5 other old vine plants of the same age planted in the city have died. This is the only remaining 200-year-old vine remaining from those original plantings. To create, save and savor a bit of history, the vine was harvested by Olivier Bernard, who will also produce the wine which will be bottled as the aptly named La Vigne Bicentenaire.

The production is extremely small as less than 25 cases, or one full barrel of wine is produced per vintage.

If that was not enough to keep Olivier Bernard busy, his team is also responsible for tending the vineyards at Merignac, the Bordeaux airport to produce La Croix de Guyenne, which is the only known wine made from vines planted at an airport in the world!

La Croix de Guyenne is produced from a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. The unique airport terroir is mostly sand and clay soils. The vineyard is well taken care of during the year. The vine density is 10,000 vines per hectare. The production of La Croix de Guyenne is quite tiny as only 100 cases are produced in a good vintage.

www.domainedelasolitude.com

Domaine de la Solitude Wine Tasting Notes

19 Vintages 51,996 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
91
Black cherries, flowers, olives, and plums on the nose. On the medium-bodied palate you find soft, fresh, red pit fruits, soft-textures, and a creamy, fruity finish that is going to be delicious on release. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with 40% Merlot. Drink from 2025-2035. 90-92 Pts.

Black cherries, flowers, olives, and plums on the nose. On the medium-bodied palate you find soft, fresh, red pit fruits, soft-textures, and a creamy, fruity finish that is going to be delicious on release. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with 40% Merlot. Drink from 2025-2035. 90-92 Pts.

2,466 Views   Tasted
2022
91
Lemon curd, green apples, vanilla, pomelo, and a background note of white peach is what you find in the nose, and on the fruity, creamy, sweet, and fresh palate. The wine blends 70% Sauvignon Blanc, and 30% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2030. 91-91 Pts.

Lemon curd, green apples, vanilla, pomelo, and a background note of white peach is what you find in the nose, and on the fruity, creamy, sweet, and fresh palate. The wine blends 70% Sauvignon Blanc, and 30% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2030. 91-91 Pts.

2,287 Views   Tasted
2021
91
Flowers, espresso, cocoa, spice and red berry aromatics dominate the perfume. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, soft, polished, refined and forward, leaving you with sweet, black raspberries, plums, cherries , chalk and a refreshing sprig of mint leaves. This will drink well on release and provide pleasure for more than a decade. Drink from 2024-2045.

Flowers, espresso, cocoa, spice and red berry aromatics dominate the perfume. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, soft, polished, refined and forward, leaving you with sweet, black raspberries, plums, cherries , chalk and a refreshing sprig of mint leaves. This will drink well on release and provide pleasure for more than a decade. Drink from 2024-2045.

283 Views   Tasted
2021
91
White flowers, orange rind, green apples, lemon custard and spice pop in the nose. The palate is even better with all of its bright, crisp, juicy, sweet, crisp yellow citrus, and white peaches. Drink from 2024-2030.

White flowers, orange rind, green apples, lemon custard and spice pop in the nose. The palate is even better with all of its bright, crisp, juicy, sweet, crisp yellow citrus, and white peaches. Drink from 2024-2030.

276 Views   Tasted
2020
92
Scents of white peaches, flowers, green apples, and honeysuckle show with ease on the nose. Fresh, creamy and fruity, with a core of sweet, ripe, yellow citrus and spicy pineapple in the finish.

Scents of white peaches, flowers, green apples, and honeysuckle show with ease on the nose. Fresh, creamy and fruity, with a core of sweet, ripe, yellow citrus and spicy pineapple in the finish.

1,624 Views   Tasted
Green apples, honeysuckle, mango and Meyer lemons on the nose come through easily. Fresh, crisp and juicy on the palate, with a creamy, lush, bright, yellow citrus finish.92 Pts

Green apples, honeysuckle, mango and Meyer lemons on the nose come through easily. Fresh, crisp and juicy on the palate, with a creamy, lush, bright, yellow citrus finish.92 Pts

2,627 Views   Tasted
2020
91
Dried flowers, tobacco, smoke, and red fruits combine in the perfume. Medium-bodied, lifted, and silky on the palate, the finish, with its soft, elegant textures, and sweet, red fruits feels as good as it tastes. You can enjoy this early or age it for a few years. Drink from 2024-2040.

Dried flowers, tobacco, smoke, and red fruits combine in the perfume. Medium-bodied, lifted, and silky on the palate, the finish, with its soft, elegant textures, and sweet, red fruits feels as good as it tastes. You can enjoy this early or age it for a few years. Drink from 2024-2040.

1,531 Views   Tasted
Flowers, red fruits and a little bit of tobacco smoke provide the perfume. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, silky, soft, elegant and polished, with sweet red berries, spice and tobacco leaf in the smooth finish. You can enjoy this early or age it for a few years. 90-92 Pts

Flowers, red fruits and a little bit of tobacco smoke provide the perfume. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, silky, soft, elegant and polished, with sweet red berries, spice and tobacco leaf in the smooth finish. You can enjoy this early or age it for a few years. 90-92 Pts

2,913 Views   Tasted
2019
91
Green apples and yellow citrus with a touch of minerality and some white peach in the finish makes this a perfect wine for early drinking pleasure. Drink from 2022-2028.

Green apples and yellow citrus with a touch of minerality and some white peach in the finish makes this a perfect wine for early drinking pleasure. Drink from 2022-2028.

1,133 Views   Tasted
Fresh, bright yellow citrus fruits combined with white peach are at work here. Lively and fresh, with a sweet lemon and green apple finish, this going to be ready to go on release. 91 Pts

Fresh, bright yellow citrus fruits combined with white peach are at work here. Lively and fresh, with a sweet lemon and green apple finish, this going to be ready to go on release. 91 Pts

3,403 Views   Tasted
2019
91
The smoke, herbs, tobacco leaf, spice and red fruits come through on the nose and palate with little effort. The wine is soft, medium-bodied, elegant, and fresh with lift and energy in the red plum and cherry packed finish. There is good energy and ample fruits in the endnote. Give it a year or two in the cellar and it will be even more complex. Drink from 2023-2032.

The smoke, herbs, tobacco leaf, spice and red fruits come through on the nose and palate with little effort. The wine is soft, medium-bodied, elegant, and fresh with lift and energy in the red plum and cherry packed finish. There is good energy and ample fruits in the endnote. Give it a year or two in the cellar and it will be even more complex. Drink from 2023-2032.

2,238 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, soft, elegant, forward-styled wine with a smoky, earthy, herb and floral nose. Refined, pure and fresh, with elegant red fruits in the finish. This will drink well shortly after release. 89-91 Pts

Medium-bodied, soft, elegant, forward-styled wine with a smoky, earthy, herb and floral nose. Refined, pure and fresh, with elegant red fruits in the finish. This will drink well shortly after release. 89-91 Pts

2,739 Views   Tasted
2018
91
Medium-bodied, fresh, silky, elegant and loaded with sweet, ripe, pure red fruits with a smoky edge, the finish delivers more of those sweet red fruits along with herbs, crushed stone and tobacco leaf. This will drink well shortly after release.

Medium-bodied, fresh, silky, elegant and loaded with sweet, ripe, pure red fruits with a smoky edge, the finish delivers more of those sweet red fruits along with herbs, crushed stone and tobacco leaf. This will drink well shortly after release.

3,214 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, elegant, soft, polished and silky with its background notes of dark cocoa, olive and black cherry, this is going to offer great drinking on release. 89-91 Pts

Medium-bodied, elegant, soft, polished and silky with its background notes of dark cocoa, olive and black cherry, this is going to offer great drinking on release. 89-91 Pts

3,620 Views   Tasted
2018
89
Fresh squeezed lemons and pomelo with peppy freshness and a jolt of lemon rind in the bright finish is what you will find here. You can drink this on release with pleasure.

Fresh squeezed lemons and pomelo with peppy freshness and a jolt of lemon rind in the bright finish is what you will find here. You can drink this on release with pleasure.

1,782 Views   Tasted
2016
90
Perfect white Bordeaux wine for easy drinking, with all its yellow citrus, crushed rock and lemon freshness.

Perfect white Bordeaux wine for easy drinking, with all its yellow citrus, crushed rock and lemon freshness.

2,397 Views   Tasted
2016
89
Medium bodied, easy to discover personality, with just enough, smoky cherries, earth and tobacco to make it interesting, all the way through to its soft textured finish.

Medium bodied, easy to discover personality, with just enough, smoky cherries, earth and tobacco to make it interesting, all the way through to its soft textured finish.

2,870 Views   Tasted
2015
90
Medium-bodied, elegantly soft, round and with ample ripe, earthy, tobacco tinted red fruits on the nose and palate to make this forward wine already easy and fun to drink.

Medium-bodied, elegantly soft, round and with ample ripe, earthy, tobacco tinted red fruits on the nose and palate to make this forward wine already easy and fun to drink.

1,751 Views   Tasted
2013
91
A smoking value for white Bordeaux wine, here you find all the fresh, juicy, sweet, yellow citrus you could ever want. The wine is crisp, live and fresh, with a slight, honeysuckle overtone. This is not a wine to lay down for years, but it is showing just great today.

A smoking value for white Bordeaux wine, here you find all the fresh, juicy, sweet, yellow citrus you could ever want. The wine is crisp, live and fresh, with a slight, honeysuckle overtone. This is not a wine to lay down for years, but it is showing just great today.

1,610 Views   Tasted
2012
87
Early drinking, white Bordeaux summer quaffer that is uncomplicated and fresh with a nice, fresh squeezed lemon character.

Early drinking, white Bordeaux summer quaffer that is uncomplicated and fresh with a nice, fresh squeezed lemon character.

2,171 Views   Tasted
2012
86
Forward, early drinking, medium bodied, soft textured, red berry filled wine with some earthy complexities. A nice value Bordeaux wine from the owners of Domaine de Chevalier.

Forward, early drinking, medium bodied, soft textured, red berry filled wine with some earthy complexities. A nice value Bordeaux wine from the owners of Domaine de Chevalier.

1,868 Views   Tasted
2011
83
Medium bodied, forward, with cherry core of fruits meant for youthful drinking.

Medium bodied, forward, with cherry core of fruits meant for youthful drinking.

1,328 Views   Tasted
Medium bodied, crisp, light, but lively, fresh, citrus dominated wine that should be consumed over the next year or two.

Medium bodied, crisp, light, but lively, fresh, citrus dominated wine that should be consumed over the next year or two.

1,187 Views   Tasted
2010
87
Medium bodied, lighter style of early drinking Pessac Leognan that is close to fully mature. Easy drinking, with freshness, earthy cherries and tobacco characteristics.

Medium bodied, lighter style of early drinking Pessac Leognan that is close to fully mature. Easy drinking, with freshness, earthy cherries and tobacco characteristics.

2,035 Views   Tasted
2010
87
Fresh, refreshing, lighter style of ready to go white Bordeaux wine with a sweet, grapefruit and lemon character.

Fresh, refreshing, lighter style of ready to go white Bordeaux wine with a sweet, grapefruit and lemon character.

1,254 Views   Tasted