Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Julien Barrot"

France
Rhône
2020

Formerly called the "Signature" bottling.

From a mix of different terroir found in Châteauneuf; yellow and red sand, red clay, large pebbles, with a high proportion of sand. The average age of the vines is more than 70 years old. The final blend is: • 60% Grenache from a plot at the junction of "Palestor" and "Bois Dauphin" districts and one at the junction of "Grand Pierre", "Rayas" and "Pointu" districts as well as "Cabrières", "Boursan" and "Pied Long" blocks • 19% Mourvèdre from "Les Mascaronnes" and "Boursan" plots• 13% Syrah from "Le Parc" and "Cabrières" plots• 5% Cinsault from "Pierre à feu" plots• 1% Vacarrese• 2% Assorted Other varieties.

Rigorous bud pruning, as well as green harvesting and leaf thinning, keep yields low. The picking is entirely by hand, with sorting in the vineyard and again in the cellar. Underripe stalks are removed. Aged in tulip shaped concrete tanks, old oak casks, and 600 liter barrels for 20 months. The wine is bottled without filtration. 

“This vintage offers great intensity, crispy red fruits, licorice, and violets. It has a long and ample mouthfeel. Powerful and structured, this cuvee reveals perfectly the sandy soils of the Domaine. ” —Julien Barrot

94 points
"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."
Stuart Pigott,
James Suckling
April 2023
93 points
"A bold, extroverted, spicy red, bursting with cherry, red currant and subtle cigar box. Delivers a pronounced thread of graphite that gives shape to the lush palate, with elegant but present tannins holding firm on the pepper- and spice-dusted finish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre."
Kristen Bieler,
Wine Spectator
April 2023

SKU/Code: 
DB1315-20
Product Line: 
National Portfolio
Wine
Red
Varietal: 
Grenache