Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Julien Barrot 2023 375ml

Variety: 61 % Grenache, 15 % Mourvedre, 11 % Syrah, 7 % Counoise, 5 % Cinsault 1 % Vaccaresse etc
Country, Region: France, Rhone Valley
Appellation: Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Made from 61 % Grenache, 15 % Mourvèdre, 11 % Syrah, 7 % Counoise, 5 % Cinsault, 1 % other varieties grown mainly in the north/north-east area of the appellation in red clay and sandy soil with average age of vines being 65 yo and nearly 50 % of the Grenache being 100+ yo. This gives a wine with a great deal of freshness and extremely refined aromas with an elegant silky mouthfeel. Fully de-stemmed and fermented in concrete tulip-shaped tanks with gentle extraction and gravity flow used throughout the winery over all 4 levels for gentle handling at all stages. Aged for 19 months on lees in demi-muid barrels, foudres and concrete tanks. The resulting wine is fresh with great elegance yet also texture and great length and depth to the palate. This will surprise with its ageing capacity yet is so approachable already.

‘Fresh violets, rose petal, strawberry, minty shadings and a pinch of dried herbs highlight the 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Julien Barrot. It's a distinctly elegant and inviting red that's packed with plentiful flavor concentration. Medium- to full-bodied, the 2023 is balanced by a bright acidic backbone and seals the deal with a long and refined finish. Drink 2026-2036.  (91-93) points, Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, August 2024.

'[Barroche] ‘Pure’ is as close to a great vintage of Rayas as one will find.' Robert Parker Jr, The 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.