Domaine La Barroche "Julien Barrot" Chateauneuf du Pape 2022
(Southern Rhone, France) - [JD 94] [VM 91-93]

About the Winery:
Dating back to Alexander Barrot’s aquisition of the land in the 17th century, Christian Barrot inherited his family’s 5 ha (3 acres) estate in 1972 and has since grown it to 15 ha (30 acres) spread throughout the northern region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC. From the start, Christian knew the value of his terroir and focused on selling his wine in bulk to prestigious wine merchants in the northern Côtes du Rhône.

In the early 2000s, Christian’s children, Laetitia and Julien, joined the family business and made the decision to estate bottle their own wine. Today, Laetitia handles the marketing and sales, while Julien, who received degrees in enology and business, is the winemaker. Julien’s experience working in other wine regions including Côtes du Rhône, Bordeaux, Languedoc and Australia contributes unique insights to his family’s estate.

“We put our heart and soul into winemaking and are deeply-rooted in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. We are proud of our heritage, down-to-earth, and hardworking, and aim to offer you the best possible wine, while continually striving for excellence.” - Julien and Laetatia Barrot

About the Wine:
The 'Signature' bottling of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is predominantly composed of Grenache, blended with Mourvèdre, Syrah, and small quantities of Cinsault, Vaccarese and others. All vines are grown upon representative soils of Châteauneuf-du-Pape (yellow and red sand, red clay, large pebbles) with a high proportion of sand, and the average age of the vines is more than 70 years old. The vineyards see rigorous bud pruning, green harvesting, and leaf thinning. The harvest is entirely by hand, with sorting in the vineyard and again in the cellar. The wine stays on the skins for over 4 weeks seeing only gentle extractions. It is then aged in tulip-shaped concrete tanks, old oak casks and 600 barrels for 20 months. The wine is not filtered before bottling.
This signature blend offers a singular wine personality, a delicate alchemy of spices and well-ripened black fruits, a delight for the senses.

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Julien Barrot is also beautiful. Based on 63% Grenache, 13% Mourvèdre, 11% Syrah, 7% Counoise, 5% Cinsault, and the rest Clairette Rose that was partially destemmed, its deeper ruby/plum hue is followed by terrific aromatics of ripe black cherries, sappy garrigue, licorice, and chalky minerality. It's not massive yet brings a beautiful sense of concentration and mid-palate depth, ripe, polished tannins, and just about flawless balance. A gorgeous 2022, it’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise over the following decade or more. (Drink between 2026-2038)." (Oct 2024)

91-93 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Julien Barrot showcases pronounced licorice, lavender, strawberry, raspberry, violet and garrigue elements. Supple and inviting, the 2022 hits the palate with a ripe and juicy fruit core balanced by refreshing acidity. Medium- to full-bodied and polished, it won’t need much time to get ready. (Drink between 2027-2037)" - Nicolas Greinacher (Jun 2024)