M. Chapoutier : Barbe Rac 2020

The richness and expression of a Châteauneuf-du-Pape red wine

The property

Established since 1808 in Tain-L’Hermitage, the M. Chapoutier House today embodies the elite of the greatest names in Rhône Valley wines.

As a winemaker and merchant, Michel Chapoutier has managed over the vintages to lead this family business to the top. The wines of Maison Chapoutier are recognized for their refinement and high quality by the most discerning connoisseurs beyond borders. A man of many hats, Michel Chapoutier holds the world record for 100/100 scores awarded by American critic Robert Parker. Mathilde, Michel Chapoutier's daughter, has taken up the torch of this iconic house, overseeing a vineyard of over 350 hectares across the most prestigious appellations of the northern and southern Rhône Valley.

The vineyard

The Barbe Rac cuvée from M. Chapoutier is a Rhône Valley wine resulting from a rigorous parcel selection. Averaging 90 years old, the vines are planted on a plot with complex geology, composed on the surface of rolled pebbles from the old bed of the Rhône.

Vinification and aging

The grapes undergo a first rigorous sorting during the harvest. Vinification in closed concrete vats. Maceration for about 3 weeks. Exclusive use of the runoff wine. Aging in vats for a period of 16 months.

The vintage

The mild and dry winter favors the early start of the vineyard. The drop in temperatures in April is followed by a May whose rainfall and mildness accelerate the vegetative cycle. The dry summer climate of June in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation gives the Grenache ideal maturation conditions. Marked by exceptional precocity and a scorching heart of summer, the 2020 vintage offers wines filled with elegance.

Blend

Grenache (100%). 

Characteristics and tasting advice for Barbe Rac 2020 from M. Chapoutier 

Tasting

Color
The color is of an intense garnet hue.

Nose
The nose reveals over the course of the tasting a rich and complex aromatic palette. Fragrances of herbs and spices mingle with notes of chocolate, licorice, and fruit (strawberry).

Palate
Ample and fleshy, the palate seduces with its roundness, its density, and its length of rare persistence.

Food and wine pairings

This wine is the ideal partner for game (deer), cheeses (Mont-d’or vacherin) or terrines (thrush).