Constance, Persévérance, Excellence

R E V U E

D E P R E S S E

Réserve de Domaine La Barroche 200493-95 points.

« Deep red color. Powerfull, assertive and pure on the nose with astunning bouquet of blackberry, cassis, kirsch, gingerbread andmocha. Vibrant and energetic in the mouth with sweet red and darkberry, flowers accented by notes of licorice and rose pastille. This hasan elegant, almost silky texture and finishes on a strong note of cremede mure. »Josh Reynolds - Stephen Tanzerʼs International Wine Cellar.

Fiancée de Domaine La Barroche 200491-93 points.

« Bright red. Suave, perfumed and vibrant on the nose, with aromas ofraspberry, wild strawberry, gingerbread, fruitcake and candiedliquorice. Weighty and lush in texture, the sweet berry notes expandingand deepening; notes of cinnamon and mocha add complexity andinterest. Quite sweet and precise on the supple, very long finish, whichclings wonderfully. »Josh Reynolds pour Stephen Tanzerʼs International Wine Cellar.

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"During my last visit to Châteauneuf-du-Pape in November, a vigneron passed along a tip that I should check out what Julien Barrot was doing at Domaine La Barroche. I tasted a number of wines from the 2005 and 2004 vintages while there, and we also took a tour of some of his vineyards. I'd been holding off on writing about the domaine, however, until I could taste the wines blind here in my office.

The domaine is new, and Barrot, at 26, is one of the youngest vignerons in town. Like many of the new domaines in CdP, Barrot's father (who still works in the vineyards today) sold the family grapes off to négociants, before Julien started bottling his own wines in the 2002 vintage. If the family name sounds familiar, it's because Lucien Barrot, who ran a respected eponymous domaine, is Julien's great-uncle.

The domaine consists of just over 29 acres of vines, which average an enviable 60 years of age. In fact, one-third of the domaine's vines are 100-year-old Grenache. Production is increasing here-from 1,250 cases total in the 2003 vintage to 2,500 in 2004.

Julien is energetic and optimistic. He's also mature for a 26 years old; he constantly stresses that he wants 'finesse' in his wines—a theme he's no doubt picked up on by hanging around with the older generation of vignerons in town.

The winery facility itself is very small, with cement tanks built into the ground, and a subterranean barrel room that you climb down a ladder to enter. There are three red cuvées produced here, called Réserve, Fiancée and Pure, all vinified in cement tanks before being moved to a mix of foudres and barrels for aging.

The 2004 Réserve, aged predominantly in foudre, is made in a perfumy, traditional style, with rasp-berry, incense, mineral and lavender notes running along fine-grained tannins. It's made from a blend of 60 percent Grenache, 20 percent Mourvèdre and the rest is Syrah and Cinsault.

The Fiancée 2004 is equal parts Syrah and Grenache, and aged predominantly in barrel (starting with the '05 vintage, it's aged entirely in barrel). It's juicy, with lots of plum, licorice and mixed berry fruit. It's a forward '04, with notes of sweet spice and cocoa filling out the stylish finish.

As its name suggestions, the top wine, Pure 2004, is made from 100 percent Grenache, the essence of CdP. From sandy soils and old vines, it shows an ample core of black cherry, raspberry and red plum fruit, layered with spice and toast notes, with nice pure fruit and minerality on the finish.

I found all three of the wines to be outstanding after tasting them blind in a recent flight of '04 CdPs (look for official scores to be released soon), and this is a domaine worth watching. The wines aren't inexpensive, in the $40 to $50 range, but they aren't yet in the league with the appellation's heavy hitters, which now check in at $70 and up. If you need help tracking down their wines, check out www.domainelabarroche.com."

By James Molesworth

Posted: 10:40 AM ET, January 10, 2007

"Introducing Domaine La Barroche in Châteauneuf"

P R E S S PRESS P R E S S P R E S S

Posted: 02:57 PM ET, June 05, 2007

Today was warm and sunny, an ideal Provençal June day. So nice, in fact, that I parked my car in the center of town and walked to my first three appointments. The better to offset the foie gras with, I told myself.

My first stop of the day was with young Julien Barrot, who I first profiled in a previous blog :<http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Detail/0,4211,809,00.html>.

Barrot began bottling his own wines in recent years, and I was curious to see if his early success could be sustained. Plus, I wanted to see if I could catch the kid napping early in the morning—no chance though, he was busy in the cellar when I arrived.

There are three cuvées of red Châteauneuf here: The first, called Tradition, is made from a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault and is vinified in a traditional manner (cement vat, then to foudre for aging). The 2005 is silky, with smoke, spice, incense and blackberry notes followed by a garrigue hint on the supple finish.

The 2005 Fiancée is made from a blend of equal parts Grenache and Syrah, and it’s really vivid, with the purple fruit and violet notes of the Syrah dominating for now, though the Grenache and its rasp-berry and mineral profile are lurking in the background.

The Pure cuvée, so named for it’s 100 percent Grenache composition, is sourced from Barrot’s oldest vines on sandy soils, and it offers up a super silky texture along with very rich blackberry, cassis, mineral and graphite notes à la the wines of Rayas, which have similar terroir. It’s well-embedded with acidity too, and should really stretch out nicely with cellaring.

All three are outstanding and better than their ’04 counterparts.

By James Molesworth

"A Day in Châteauneuf for the Palmetto State"

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2005 Fiancee Rating: (90-92) points

Domaine la Barroche Chateauneuf du PapeDrink 2007-2016

The cuvee called Fiancee is a blend of old vine Grenache (70- to 80-year-old head-pruned vines) and 50% Syrah. This is a completely different take on Chateauneuf du Pape that comes across as somewhat modern-styled, opulent and sexy. Still opulent, seductive, and rich is the deep ruby/purple-colored 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Fiancee. It shows more structure, a bit more acidity than the 2004, but still carries an enthralling personality with loads of sweet black fruit intermixed with spice box, earth, and licorice. It should drink well for 7-9 years.

Review by Robert ParkerWine Advocate #169 (Feb 2007)

2004 Pure Rating: 92 points

Domaine la Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape

The third cuvee is truly blockbuster stuff and made from 100% Grenache of vines over 100 years old. They all come from sandy soils, which is often a fabulous source for old head-pruned Grena-che vines in Chateauneuf du Pape. The 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Pure has a Rayas-like kirsch liqueur and raspberry compote character of great intensity, striking elegance, good acidity, and beautiful texture and length. Supple tannin and voluptuous quality make for quite a stunning wine.

2005 Pure Rating: (92-95) points

Domaine la Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Drink 2007-2022

The third cuvee is truly blockbuster stuff and made from 100% Grenache of vines over 100 years old. They all come from sandy soils, which is often a fabulous source for old head-pruned Grena-che vines in Chateauneuf du Pape. The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Pure shows much more garrigue and Provencal herb notes than the 2004, but again the Rayas-like raspberry and cherry liqueur notes are present along with licorice and mineral scents. Full-bodied, opulent, and powerful while at the same time rich, with good structure, and terrific freshness and precision, this is a spectacular Chateauneuf du Pape that should drink well for 10-15 or more years. This is clearly one of the sleepers of the vintage and readers should know the wines are very traditio-nally made as everything is aged 18 months in old oak foudres. The production up until 2003 was entirely sold to negociants but now is being estate bottled. Mark down another up-and-coming great estate in Chateauneuf du Pape!

A new estate to reckon with, proprietors Christian and Julien Barrot come from a good winemaking family, and I believe these are the first wines they have presented for tasting. There are three cuvees from their 30 acres.

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Tasting Highlights:Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2004Familiar names and newcomers offer plenty of buyingopportunities

J ames Molesworth

Posted: Friday, February 16, 2007

The 2004 Châteauneuf-du-Papes are now arriving in stores, and theyrepresent an excellent buying opportunity. Quality is as high as2003—and the 2004 vintage is far more consistent—but prices areholding steady so far.

Here are some of the latest releases, including the Beaucastel andPégaü. If ever there were a way to show how two distinct styles of thesame wine can both be equally compelling, tasting these side by side is it. Another Châteauneuf stalwartturning in a fine '04 is Daniel Brunier, whose Vieux Télégraphe is worth buying a case for the cellar. Thereare some new faces in here too: three cuvées from young Julien Barrot, 26, at Domaine La Barroche showpromise, as do the '04s from Serge Gradassi, of Domaine des Pères de l'Église, whom I profiled in the July31, 2006, issue.

DOMAINE LA BARROCHE Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pure 2004 92 $60

Dark, with an ample core of black cherry, raspberry and red plum fruit, layered with spice and toast notes.Nice pure fruit and minerality on the finish. 100 percent Grenache. Best from 2008 through 2017.

DOMAINE LA BARROCHE Châteauneuf-du-Pape Fiancée 2004 91 $46

Juicy, with lots of plum, licorice and mixed berry fruit, this is a forward '04, with notes of sweet spice andcocoa filling out the stylish finish. Equal parts Grenache and Syrah. Drink now through 2017.

DOMAINE LA BARROCHE Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve 2004 91 $40

Perfumy, traditional style, with raspberry, incense, mineral and lavender notes running along fine-grainedtannins. Long, minerally finish. 60 percent Grenache and 20 percent Mourvèdre, along with Syrah andCinsault. Drink now through 2017.

By Josh Raynolds Jan/Feb 07

2005 Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Pure 93-96(100% grenache) Deep ruby. Seductive, deeply fruity bouquet displays jammy raspberry and wild strawberry, Christmas spices and bright mineral lift. Clean and sweet, the ripe red berry fruit showing superb depth and power and complicated by a strong lavender note. Finishes with building sweetness, gentle tannins and excellent length. This has the power and balance to age but I suspect that it will drink beautifully in its youth.

2005 Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Fiancee 93-96(a blend of 50% grenache and 50% syrah) Inky purple. Smoky tobacco, espresso and licorice accent ripe black-berry and boysenberry fruit aromas. Full, fleshy and sweet, with powerful cherry and dark berry flavors, solid tannins and an expansive finish. Deepens and gains weight with aeration, with the tannins building. A serious Cha-teauneuf that's built for the cellar.

2005 Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reserve 91-94Deep ruby. Intensely spicy scents of vibrant blackberry, cassis and gingerbread. Round, warm and velvety in the mouth, showing ripe cherry and dark berry flavors with a hint of cured tobacco. The sweetness builds through the long, juicy finish. This has excellent fruit.

2004 Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reserve 93($40) Bright red. Intense raspberry, strawberry and exotic blood orange aromas complicated by garrigue and anise. Supple, sweet and elegant, showing excellent depth and a broad range of red fruit tones. This silky, intensely fruity, long wine leaves an impression of lavender pastille. I didn't feel the 15.5% alcohol.

2004 Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Fiancee 91($50) Dark red. Strongly perfumed nose combines strikingly fresh raspberry and strawberry scents and a bright floral element. With its vibrant red berry flavors and silky, sweet character, this is really showing its grenache side today. Firms up on the finish, picking up a deeper cherry note and displaying firm tannins but no dryness.

2004 Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Pure 91($65) Medium red. Raspberry, strawberry jam and red licorice on the nose, with a whiff of blood orange. Supple but fresh, with vibrant red fruit flavors lifted by a mineral note. A persistent raspberry note carries through the long, juicy finish of this very suave wine. Delicious right now. (Turner Wine Imports, Morrisville NC; Sussex Wine Mer-channts, Moorestown, NJ)

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Holiday Dinner

December 2007

Robert Parker

This was my first meal at Veritas since their famous chef Scott Bryan left, replaced by one of the sous chefs that had

worked for Daniel Boulud for many years, Ed Cotton. Of course, nothing else has changed. Wine Director Tim Kopec is

in charge, backed up brilliantly by Yoshi Takemura and Patrick Cappiello.

The wines were a tour de force of some of our favorite wines. A wonderfully fresh 1985 Dom Pérignon Rosé was

followed by a brilliant 2004 Aubert Chardonnay Reuling Vineyard. This vineyard is planted with a suitcase clone taken

from the Montrachet vineyard, and there is no doubt this wine does have an extra level of minerality not often found in

California Chardonnays. It is a brilliant wine. We then moved on to some of the greats from Châteauneuf du Pape. Clos

St. Jean’s breakthrough vintage of 2003, when Philippe Cambie started to work with a newly committed proprietor, the

young Vincent Maurel, was a triumph in richness, intensity, and complexity. The 2003 Deus Ex Machina goes from

strength to strength, and for me, it has hit the peak – Châteauneuf du Pape or even red wine in general simply can’t be

any better than this. It is an extraordinary expression of Châteauneuf du Pape with incredibly intense dark fruit, an almost

confit of roasted Provençal herbs and meat juices, and a nectar-like finish. This is a stunner that should continue to age

beautifully for 20 or more years. The mini-vertical, or at least a vertical of every bottled Cuvée da Capo from Domaine

du Pégaü to date, was again triumphed by the 2003, a somewhat weird and erratic year, but when it was handled well, an

absolutely extraordinary vintage of monumental wines. Alone, I have often given a perfect score to the 1998 Cuvée da

Capo or the 2000 Cuvée da Capo, but served next to the 2003 Deus Ex Machina and the 2003 Cuvée da Capo, there is

simply no contest. As compelling as the 1998 and 2000 are, both 2003s have so much more there. Another wine that I

underrated (probably because of my generally conservative nature regarding new estates, and I had only tasted one

previous vintage from this one) but the 2005 Domaine La Barroche Pure is an absolute elixir of 100% old vine

Grenache from sandy soils not far from the Rayas vineyards in Châteauneuf du Pape. It is a brilliant wine.

All of these wines were matched perfectly by Ed Cotton’s cuisine, and the service was impeccable. If you haven’t been

to Veritas since the change in chefs, I think you’re in for a remarkable evening of extraordinary food. What a day.

Vintage Wine Rating

1985 Dom Pérignon Rosé (magnum) 94

2004 Aubert Chardonnay Reuling Vineyard (magnum) 98

2003 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina (magnum) 100

2003 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée da Capo (magnum) 100

2000 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée da Capo (magnum) 96

1998 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée da Capo (magnum) 98+

2005 Domaine La Barroche Châteauneuf du Pape Pure (magnum) 100

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R O B E R T P A R K E R

W I N E A D V O C A T E

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23 avril 2008

@@@ Domaine la Barroche

**** Châteauneuf du Pape - 2004 Réserve: schönes, frisches Rubin,

in der Nase schwarze und blaue Beeren, Baumrinde, tiefes Bukett,

am Gaumen dicht und saftig mit gunter Tanninstruktur, gute Länge.

**** Châteauneuf du Pape - 2005 Réserve: lebendiges Kirschrot,

wenig Ausdruck in der Nase, am Gaumen viel zu trockenes Tannin,

Korkverdacht, 2. Flasches deutlich fruchtiger im Duft, saftig und

strukturiert am Gaumen.

**** Châteauneuf du Pape - Fiancée 2004: dichtes, sehr frisches und

schönes Rubinrot, Cassis, Zeder, animalisch-balsamische Noten,

Saft und Stoff, gute Tanninstruktur, fehlt etwas Länge und Tiefe

im Ausdruck.

***** Châteauneuf du Pape - Fiancée 2005: dichtes, leuchtendes

Rubinrot, verhaltene, aber sehr feine und tiefe Nase, fest strukturierter

Körper, noch junges, aber entwicklungsfähiges Tannin, Waldhonig

im abgang, sehr schön.

***** Châteauneuf du Pape - Pure 2005: dichtes, warmes Rot, etwas

nasses Papier im Duft, aber dahinter auch feine Fruchtaromen,

dicker, fülliger Körper, enorm viel süsser Extrakt, mächtiger guter

Wein.

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2005 Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reserve 93 Points

Has a gorgeous mouthfeel, with a rich, velvety, mouthfilling texture that allows hoisin sauce, Turkish coffee, graphite and dark licorice notes to sail through the dense, lengthy finish. Excellent grip is well embedded. 60% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre along with Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2030.

2005 Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Fiancee 94 Points

This has really nice drive, with a racy beam of raspberry and linzer torte pushing through the sweet mocha-tinged structure up front, while pushed by mouthwatering minerality on the back end. There’s a lovely raspberry and black pepper encore on the finish. Equal parts Syrah and Grenach. Drink now through 2025.

2005 Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Pure 95 Points

Dark and brooding with Turkish coffee and licorice root notes leading the way for bittersweet cocoa, mesquite and fig. The long, plush finish shows flashes of incense, as fruit and chestnut notes linger. 100% Grenache. Julien Barrot is off to an impressive start. Drink now through 2025.

Wine Spectator INSIDER – January 16, 2008

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100% Grenache (1890s-1920), Le Pointu at Courthézon, Grand Pierre at Châteauneuf, partdestemmed, 30-day fermentation, maceration, small pumping overs, 32°C max for the cap,4,000 b

2005bright, bouncy red colour; smoky, lingering red stone fruits aroma with some mysterywithin – kirsch, cherry, nutty, raisin most evident, quite a package. A kirsch flavour onthe start, denotes power in the wine, and that is what leads it – must be well over 15°. Has a coffee flavour already, veers towards Port even at this young stage. I preferyouth and clarity in my young wine. From 2010. 2020-22 Dec 2006

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60-65% Grenache (1940s/1900s from Palestor), 15-23% Mourvèdre (from Les Mascarrons),8-10% Syrah (from Les Tresquous), 9-10% Cinsault (1947 from Pierre à Feu), 30-day fermentation, maceration, vat emptying/refilling, cap punching, pumping overs, aged barrels,550-litre casks 18 months, 18-20,000 b

2005weighty, latent power in the bouquet – herbs, some coffee; comfortably knit palate, with good fruit, really good fruit that is clear and persistent. Solid, broad finale, has a rich, earthy, rather herbal aftertaste. Local feel in the making here, especially after 5-6 years. 2021-26 March 2007 Previously Nov 2006 ***(*) quite a full red; wide, assertive bou

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quet, shows sleek, modern, quite punchy red fruit which is potent and a little char

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coal at heart, with a velvety outer. Live, zappy fruit on attack, very much on the go. More calm richness later on. Broad and punchy at the finish, has a good, live finale.Good length. Virile, vigorous wine. From 2009. 2018-22

(M)

DOMAINE LA BARROCHE : FIANCÉE

DOMAINE LA BARROCHE : RÉSERVE

DOMAINE LA BARROCHE : PURE

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50% Grenache (100+years from Terres Blanches), 50% Syrah (1992, Cabrières), Grenachewhole bunches, Syrah destemmed, pre-fermentation at 15°C, 30-day fermentation, macera

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tion, some pumping overs, aged half vat, half 2-year oak casks 12-20 months, 6-7,000 b

2005dark robe; wide, appealing, thorough black berry bouquet, has traces of mint, is reallywell packed. Gourmand wine with lots of expression, carries cassis fruit of some style.Touch of the olives, a southern tone at the end. Clean cut and full-on but lots of dashabout it. End tannins need to settle. From 2009-10. 2019-22 Dec 2006

2004clear, dark robe; meaty, savoury bouquet – Bovril meat drink and also lurking raspberry– is promising. Clear fruit start to palate, with a good, pure feel. This has a harmoniouscore, and some herbal trimming adds interest. Beau, straightforward wine. Clean finish.From 2008-09. 2016-18 Oct 2006

John Livingstone-Learmonth http://www.drinkrhone.comOMMENT LIVINGSTON