Domaine La Barroche

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.

A new vinification cellar was built opposite Clos des Papes starting with 2015 vintage. Vinification here is temperature controlled with large tulip shaped 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 down to the cool underground cellar 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.” Today’s wines here, even the 2017s and 2016s, are a far cry, finesse-wise from the wines that Barrot was making in the early to late 2000s, when he “was trying for maximum power, maximum weight. You know, like so many young winemakers do when they want to make a name for themselves.” While he is pleased with how those wines are aging (and I mostly concur), he says that he does wish that they showed “a more light touch and more fresh, or red fruit” as they increasingly do now.”
Vinous Media, Josh Raynolds, December 2019

RED WINES

2021 "Liberty" rouge
51% Grenache, 11% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre, 20% Cinsault and 5% Carignan, from Yannick Alliaud’s 50 year-old vines beside Châteauneuf de Gadagne, just 20km south-east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Yannick is the 5th generation to work his families vines growing on plio-quaternary terraces covered with river stones over red and blue clay similar to Chateauneuf’s La Crau plateau. De-stemmed, macerated on skins for more than 4 weeks and fermented in concrete tanks. Matured in old oak casks and 600 litre demi-muids for 18 months. Un-fined and unfiltered.
‘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."’ 91 points, Jeb Dunnuck, November 2023.

2021 Chateauneuf-du-Pape rouge “Julien Barrot”
Made from 60% Grenache, 19% Mourvedre, 13% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, 1% Vaccarese, 2% 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. Aged for 18 months on lees in demi-muid barrels. 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.
‘Expressive and pure on the nose, he smells of scrub, even brambles. Dense, it has tannins tight but ripe. Still in its form, it will be necessary forget it for at least two or three years in the cellar so that it relax.’ 93 points, La Revue du Vin de France, October 2023.
‘This vibrant, juicy, black cherry and mulberry-driven 2021 has medium body, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. It's beautifully made and a classic, Burgundian 2021.’ 92 points, Jeb Dunnuck, November 2023.
‘It reveals fragrant aromas of glossy red fruits, black cherry, licorice, white pepper, mint and hints of lavender. It is full-bodied, enveloped in smooth tannins and the bright finish concludes with good persistence.’ (91-93) points, Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous Media, April 2023.

2021 Chateauneuf-du-Pape rouge "Pure"
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.
‘All in aromatic elegance, it mixes fruit scents and scrubland. A pure Grenache on sand with a fine mouthfeel thanks to soft tannins, a loose juice and above all a very pure fruit. It lives up to its name.’ 97 points, La Revue du Vin de France, October 2023.
‘Ripe darker cherries, spring flowers, peppery garrigue, and some earthy, spicy nuances all shine, and it's medium-bodied, elegant, and seamless, with beautiful tannins. As with most of the top 2021s, it's all about finesse and elegance and is already impossible to resist. It should evolve for 10-12 years with no issues."’ 94 points, Jeb Dunnuck, November 2022
‘distinctively refined version. ...precise aromas of rose petal, blood orange, redcurrant, raspberry, strawberry, licorice, dried herbs and a pinch of white pepper waft from the glass. The velvety tannins play a crucial role in shaping a seamless mouthfeel, while the elegant finish lingers on with great persistence’ (93-95)1 Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous Media, April 2023.

2020 "Liberty" rouge - last few cases
51% Grenache, 11% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre, 20% Cinsault and 5% Carignan, from Yannick Alliaud’s 50 year-old vines beside Châteauneuf de Gadagne, just 20km south-east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Yannick is the 5th generation to work his families vines growing on plio-quaternary terraces covered with river stones over red and blue clay similar to Chateauneuf’s La Crau plateau. De-stemmed, macerated on skins for more than 4 weeks and fermented in concrete tanks. Matured in old oak casks and 600 litre demi-muids for 18 months. Un-fined and unfiltered.

2020 Chateauneuf-du-Pape rouge “Julien Barrot”
Made from 60% Grenache, 19% Mourvedre, 13% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, 1% Vaccarese, 2% 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. Aged for 18 months on lees in demi-muid barrels. 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.

‘I was able to taste two releases from Julien Barrot. Looking first at his 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Julien Barrot, which is a blend of 60% Grenache, 19% Mourvedre, 13% Syrah, and a handful of other varieties, it sports a deeper purple hue to go with a fabulous bouquet of kirsch and blackberry fruits as well as licorice, crushed stone, licorice, and ground pepper. It shines for its balance and elegance on the palate, but still brings substantial fruit as well as structure. It's a thrilling wine that will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades in cold cellars.’ 94 points, Jeb Dunnuck, November 2022.

‘Rich and fleshy, but with excellent tannin structure behind it, this is a very impressive modern style Chateauneuf. Plenty of preserved cherry and black raspberry fruit with notes of rosemary and thyme. Lovely silky texture until you reach the firm finish, which promises many more years of life. A cuvee of 60% grenache, 19% mourvedre, 13% syrah, 5% syrah and 3% other traditional grapes for the region. Drink or hold.’ 94 points, James Suckling, April 2023.

2019 Chateauneuf-du-Pape rouge “Julien Barrot” - 1500ml only
‘Beautiful nose of black fruit with licorice, spice and a hint of raw meat. So accessible, thanks to the very fine tannins that fill out the generous body exactly. This glides over your palate. So many subtle spicy and meaty nuances at the long, refined finish. Drink or hold.’ 94 points, Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com, March 2022.

’Lavender, pastis and warm stone notes liberally infuse a core of steeped cherry and plum paste flavors in this red, with everything knitting steadily through the finish, which features an encore of grippy, mouth-coating fruit. Textbook, gutsy-edged Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best from 2023 through 2035.’ 94 points, James Molesworth,
Wine Spectator, October 2021.

2018 "Liberty" rouge - last bottles
55% Grenache, 18% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 10% Cinsault and 5% Carignan, from Yannick Alliaud’s 50 year-old vines beside Châteauneuf de Gadagne, just 20km south-east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Yannick is the 5th generation to work his families vines growing on plio-quaternary terraces covered with river stones over red and blue clay similar to Chateauneuf’s La Crau plateau. De-stemmed, macerated on skins for more than 4 weeks and fermented in concrete tanks. Matured in old oak casks and 600 litre demi-muids for 18 months. Un-fined and unfiltered.
‘Sourced from old vines in Gadagne and blended with some declassified Châteauneuf du Pape, the 2018 Vin de France Liberty offers scents of black cherries and peppery spice. It's full-bodied and robust but ripe and fruity, with a long, silky finish.’ (90-92) points, Joe Czerwinski, RobertParker.com, August 2019.
”Coming from very old vines and similar rocky, pebbly soils as La Crau in Châteauneuf Du Pape, the 2018 Vin de France Liberty is a beautiful, elegant wine that shows the soft, forward style of the vintage. Blackberries, violets, pepper, and some earthy meatiness all emerge from this medium-bodied, concentrated and elegant red. It's beautifully balanced and certainly competes with plenty of Châteauneuf Du Pape. Give it a year or two. The blend is 55% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault and Carignan that was all destemmed.” (90-92) points, jebdunnuck.com, June 2020.

WHITE WINE

2021 Chateauneuf-du-Pape BLANC "Pure" - SOLD OUT
Just 12 bottles for Australia. Made from 100% Clairette grown in the lieu-dit of Les Pialons located in the north-east of the appellation in iron-rich sandy soil of marine origin with limestone beneath. This gives a wine with a great deal of freshness and extremely refined aromas with an elegant silky mouthfeel. Aged for 15 months on lees in demi-muid barrels. 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.
‘It presents a fragrant perfume of spring flowers, acacia, candied lemon peel, fennel, flintstone, cedar, wet stones and a pinch of vanilla. The full-bodied palate shows great poise and tension, with fresh acidity neatly counterbalancing the elevated flavor concentration"’ (93-95) Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous Media, April 2023.

2020 Chateauneuf-du-Pape BLANC "Pure" - SOLD OUT
Just 12 bottles for Australia. Made from 100% Clairette grown in the lieu-dit of Les Pialons located in the north-east of the appellation in iron-rich sandy soil of marine origin with limestone beneath. This gives a wine with a great deal of freshness and extremely refined aromas with an elegant silky mouthfeel. Aged for 15 months on lees in demi-muid barrels. 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.
‘Made from 100% Clairette, in a style which recalls the greatest wines of Meursault, with its wide fruit, its tender and coating character, all animated by considerable energy. Magnificent. A wine to taste at least once in a lifetime.’ 96 points, Guide Bettane Desseauve 2022.