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.
“Julien Barrot is on a quest to dial back the richness of his wines “even if the weather isn’t cooperating much in the last few vintages” as he seeks. Barrot told me he is looking for “more detail and structure, without hard tannins.” Vinous Media, Josh Raynolds, December 2019
97% Grenache + 3% other varieties from a single plot of vines planted 1901 in sandy soil at the junction of Grand Pierre, Rayas and Pointu vineyards. Partial whole-bunch ferment with under-ripe stalks removed. Fermented in tulip shaped concrete tank on skins for 4 weeks with very gentle extraction, then aged in an old oak foudre for 20 months before bottling unfined and unfiltered.
(91-93 points) Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media March 2017 “’(fermented in concrete eggs and aged in foudres and stainless steel tanks) Vivid ruby. Highly expressive cherry and black raspberry aromas are complicated by energetic floral and Asian spice nuances. Sappy, sweet and broad in the mouth, offering juicy, densely packed red and dark berry flavors that become deeper as the wine open up. Stains the palate and shows impressive vivacity on the persistent, floral-dominated finish, which is framed by silky, harmonious tannins.’
90-92 points, Jeb Dunnuck – Wine Advocate #227 (Oct 2016) “The 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Signature is a blend of 62% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre, 13% Syrah and the rest Vaccarèse, Clairette Rose and Cinsault. Vinified all in concrete and aged in a combination of foudre, demi-muids and stainless steel, it offers a tight, grippy, medium to full-bodied and beautifully structured style, as well as classic notes of black raspberries, black cherries, crushed flowers and hints of crushed rock. I love its tension, purity and focus, and it has terrific length on the finish as well.” A little bottle age here on this beauty
RRP $123 Our Special Price $109.99
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