Domaine La Barroche "Julien Barrot" Chateauneuf du Pape 2021
(Southern Rhone, France) - [JS 94] [JD 92] [VM 91] [WA 90]

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 - James Suckling:
"A solid, well-built and precise red with aromas of dark cherries, dried herbs, dried leaves, baking spices and a hint of bark. Full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Solid frame and drive on the palate, with a core of dark cherries and vivid spices bringing vitality and an intense character toward the focused, long finish." (Jun 2024)

92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Signature checks in as 61% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre, 13% Syrah, and the rest Cinsault, Vaccarèse and a mix of other permitted varieties. 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." (Oct 2023)

91 Points - Vinous Media:
"Red-fruit-driven and refined, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Julien Barrot is well-composed and uplifting. Lavender, licorice and violet traces add more nuance. Polished and round, it offers a pleasant finale. Give it another year in bottle to gain even more complexity." - Nicolas Greinacher (Jun 2024)

90 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Julien Barrot delivers taut strawberry and raspberry fruit. The tannins in this medium to full-bodied wine are silky, but the long, crisp finish comes across slightly tart and edgy. It's a solid effort for the vintage." - Joe Czerwinski (Sep 2023)