2007 Domaine La Barroche Châteauneuf-du-Pape Terroir

Vivid ruby. Lively red berries and spicecake on the nose. Weightier dark fruits in the mouth, with notes of anise and bitter chocolate adding a serious quality. Becomes sweeter with air and finishes with very good clarity and smoky persistence. This cuvee is made from vines that are less than 20 years of age, including Barrot's new vineyard in the northern Cabrieres sector.

The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Terroir (95% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre, Syrah, and Cinsault aged in foudres) comes from the estate’s youngest vines (about 20 years on average) and exhibits very sexy, ripe black currant and black cherry fruit intermixed with sandalwood, fruitcake, and spice box. Opulent, full-bodied, and rich, with plenty of glycerin and fruit covering up some silky tannins, this dark ruby/purple-colored wine is broad, savory, and best drunk over the next 10-15 years. Julian Barrot would say he has had very little to do with it, and that it is all his magical terroir, which sits just to the east of the great vineyard of Rayas. How long will it last? Certainly 100% Grenache cuvees tend to age faster than those with some Mourvedre or Syrah in the blend, but I would think, assuming anyone of human origin can actually resist this wine, it should evolve for at least 15 or more years. Domaine La Barroche in many ways typifies what has happened in Chateauneuf du Pape over the last decade. Until 2003, the Barrot family (who can trace their origins back to the 1600s in the village) sold all of their wine in bulk to negociants. But then young son Julian was given responsibility and, in a very short period, a succession of brilliant wines has emerged, starting with the 2004 and building on that success with the 2005s, 2006s, and 2007s. This is not a small estate, totaling just under 32 acres, and at present there is the potential for four very different styles of Chateauneuf du Pape to be produced. In 2008 they only produced two cuvees. Importers: The Sorting Table, LLC, Napa, CA; tel. (415) 491-4724

The 2007 Domaine la Barroche Châteauneuf-du-Pape Terroir has fantastic Grenache character (95% Grenache) with perfumed kirsch, raspberries and spice aromas leading into a medium to full bodied palate. Balanced, silky and textured, this has beautiful fruit and picks up ripe, fine grained tannins on the finish. Drink this beauty over the coming 10 to 12 years.