The Vineyard
An Obvious Viticultural Vocation
The terroir of La Solitude consists of a mosaic of gravelly hillocks bordered by forests, which benefit from the influence of the Atlantic climate. This ensemble contributes very positively to vine cultivation. The roots go deep, and the soils are draining. The large temperature variations of this ‘vine-forest’ system promote excellent maturity while preserving the grape’s freshness.
The clayey gravels that make up the soils have a great capacity for adaptation. During long rainy periods, they drain excess water, while during significant droughts, the clays in the subsoil perfectly hydrate the deep roots. This soil water balance gives rise to great white wines in the cooler areas and high-quality Cabernet Sauvignons in the more gravelly zones. The ability of pebbles and gravels to store the heat of the day and release it at night ensures a high quality of maturity for all grape varieties, especially for the slower ripening Cabernet Sauvignons. The identity of this terroir is fully expressed. The identity of this terroir is fully expressed.
70%
Sauvignon Blanc
65%
Cabernet Sauvignon
1892
vineyard planting
The Initial Situation
In 1993, the Solitude vineyard suffered a double handicap.
The first lay in the very structure of the grape variety composition, which did not sufficiently take into account the necessary match of grape varieties to the terroir. The second mortgage impeding the option of quality was the use of rather minimalist cultivation techniques. The lack of soil work, in particular, prevented the terroir from giving its full potential.
The Gauging of Time...
« A great terroir always has a part of mystery, of the unspoken, which only reveals itself over time. Things must be inscribed in duration for the land to reveal its talent… »
How far we have come since 1993… I feel that at La Solitude, at that time, we began to trace a path, that of the truth of the terroir, in harmony with the life of the place… Forty years is both the duration of a working life and yet not much in the face of what we are confronted with here, this sensation of immanence, of time that surpasses us… But it is our contribution to this long journey that is the history of La Solitude.
A New Cultural Approach
The terroir of La Solitude consists of a mosaic of gravelly hillocks bordered by forests, which benefit from the influence of the Atlantic climate. This ensemble contributes very positively to vine cultivation. The roots go deep, and the soils are draining. The large temperature variations of this ‘vine-forest’ system promote excellent maturity while preserving the grape’s freshness.
The clayey gravels that make up the soils have a great capacity for adaptation. During long rainy periods, they drain excess water, while during significant droughts, the clays in the subsoil perfectly hydrate the deep roots. This soil water balance gives rise to great white wines in the cooler areas and high-quality Cabernet Sauvignons in the more gravelly zones. The ability of pebbles and gravels to store the heat of the day and release it at night ensures a high quality of maturity for all grape varieties, especially for the slower ripening Cabernet Sauvignons. The identity of this terroir is fully expressed. The identity of this terroir is fully expressed.
The choice of organic farming
The choice of organic farming and biodynamics cannot be a trivial commitment.
The terroir of La Solitude consists of a mosaic of gravelly hillocks bordered by forests, which benefit from the influence of the Atlantic climate. This ensemble contributes very positively to vine cultivation. The roots go deep, and the soils are draining. The large temperature variations of this ‘vine-forest’ system promote excellent maturity while preserving the grape’s freshness.
The clayey gravels that make up the soils have a great capacity for adaptation. During long rainy periods, they drain excess water, while during significant droughts, the clays in the subsoil perfectly hydrate the deep roots. This soil water balance gives rise to great white wines in the cooler areas and high-quality Cabernet Sauvignons in the more gravelly zones. The ability of pebbles and gravels to store the heat of the day and release it at night ensures a high quality of maturity for all grape varieties, especially for the slower ripening Cabernet Sauvignons. The identity of this terroir is fully expressed. The identity of this terroir is fully expressed.