Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Pure"

2018
Barroche
France
Rhône

97% Grenache, 3% other varietals. Pure is handcrafted from a single plot of 100-year-old vines and sandy soil, at the junction of “Grand Pierre”, “Rayas” and “Pointu” districts. Underripe stems are removed, and the wine is fermented in underground concrete vats. The wine stays on the skins for over 4 weeks, followed by a gentle extraction.

95-97 points
"Lurid ruby-red. Powerful Chambord, cherry pastry, incense, lavender and spicecake aromas show sharp definition and pick up a lively mineral nuance as the wine opens up. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering deeply concentrated but energetic raspberry, cherry liqueur, five-spice powder and floral pastille flavors that are given lift by a jolt of juicy acidity. Suavely blends richness and finesse and finishes extremely long and smooth, with resonating florality and spiciness and pliant tannins that lend shape and gentle grip."
Josh Raynolds,
Vinous Media
, December 2019
94-96 points
"At the time of my visit in June, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Pure still hadn't been put into foudre for maturation, so I tasted it straight from the concrete tank. Nutty notes mark the nose ("peanuts," Robert Parker used to say), joining exquisitely ripe cherries and raspberries. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, it finishes long, with a touch of warmth and a dusting of dried spices."
Joe Czerwinski,
Wine Advocate
, August 2019
94 points
"Coming from incredibly old vines and sandy soils located at the intersection of the Grand Pierre, Rayas, and Pointu lieux-dits, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Pure is as always 100% Grenache raised in a single, ancient foudre. This was a difficult vintage for the more sandy soils yet Julien has fashioned a beautiful wine that offers lots of strawberry and raspberry fruits as well as notes of spring flowers, white pepper, and sappy garrigue. Playing in the medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it’s nicely balanced, has silky tannins, and a beautiful sense of elegance and finesse. It’s going to benefit from a year or three of bottle age and cruise for a decade in cool cellars."
Jeb Dunnuck
, October 2020

SKU/Code: 
DB1316-18
Product Line: 
Wine
Red
Varietal: 
Grenache
Farming Type: 
Organic