Description
“Under the young and capable leadership of Laetitia and Julien Barrot, Domaine la Barroche represents a bright light in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.” – Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
Whilst this small estate is relatively new to estate bottling (first vintage 2003) in the list of producers of Chateauneuf, the Barrot family that owns these 12.5 hectares of Chateauneuf-du-Pape have been established in the village since about 1400. The average age of the vines at La Barroche is 60 years old and one third of the vineyards are more than 100 years old (Grenache). Most of the vineyards of the estate are located in the north and north-east of the appellation with just a few plots located close to the town of Chateauneuf-du-Pape on the southern side.
Vinification here is classic with cement tanks used for fermentation and a mixture of cement and large foudres used for elevage of the Grenache based components and smaller oak used for the ageing of Syrah and Mourvedre based components. In the cellar wine is moved by gravity and done according to the lunar calendar and weather patterns. The wines of La Barroche are modern in the best sense, clean, pure and brilliant.
51% Grenache, 11% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre, 20% Cinsault, 5% Carignan, from Yannick Alliaud’s 50 year-old vines beside Châteauneuf de Gadagne, just 20km south-east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
The grapes for Liberty by La Barroche takes their roots in the southernmost part of the Rhône valley, next to Châteauneuf de Gadagne and similar to the Crau plateau in Châteauneuf du Pape.
The 50-year-old vines grow on Plio-Quaternary terraces covered with river stones, at an altitude of 125 metres, on sun-drenched hillsides, watered by tributaries of the Rhone and windswept by the Mistral. These old vines are warmed by the thick carpet of large river stones and draw all their nourishment from a mixture of sand and red and blue clay, which keeps them cool, even during the hottest seasons. Rigorous bud pruning. The picking is entirely by hand, with sorting in the vineyard and again in the cellar.
The gravity-system cellar was built in 1930. Wine-making in underground concrete vats. Destemming of underripe stalks. The wine stays on the skins for over 4 weeks. Gentle extractions. Aging in old oak casks and 600-liter barrels for approximately 18 months. The wine is not filtered before bottling.
Jeb Dunnuck, November 2023 91 pts : ‘Medium ruby-hued, it displays a spicy, peppery, red and black-fruited style as well as medium-bodied richness and depth on the palate. It’s a beautiful, elegant, incredibly impressive red from this challenging vintage that readers will love.’
RRP $70 Special Price when you buy 6 or more bottles $57.99
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