The Léon Barral estate, led since 1990 by Didier Barral, is one of those emblematic names with a strong, pioneering philosophy that is sometimes looked upon with curiosity, but which always commands respect. It is this value that gives the work and wines of the Léon Barral estate their identity. Respect for the terroir, the soil, the ecosystem, the fruit, the living world: from the vine to the cellar, Didier Barral does more to support than to impose.
Located at Lenthéric in the commune of Cabrerolles in the Hérault, the Léon Barral estate produces red and white wines in the Faugères and IGP Pays de l'Hérault appellations from a 100% schist terroir. This Languedoc icon cultivates small plots of old vines aged between 30 and 80 years, with fairly low yields of around 25 hectolitres per hectare. Didier Barral doesn't bother with certifications, even though he is one of the region's pioneers of environmentally-friendly farming techniques and rather natural wines. His philosophy goes even further than organic and biodynamic farming. On his vineyard, he has introduced mixed farming with around 70 cows and over 30 Black pigs from Bigorre associated with the vines. He also uses 3 types of manure to amend the soil in his plots and no chemical molecules.
In the cellar, the philosophy remains the same: the desire to produce a healthy wine with the identity of its terroir takes precedence over everything else. As a result, these Languedoc wines use very little wood (when wood is used, barrels containing several wines are chosen), macerations are often carried out with the stalks when their ripeness allows, punching down is regular, no extraction is carried out and indigenous yeasts do the work for the macerations. The use of sulphites is also very limited, with only a small amount added during bottling. Nevertheless, the wines have great ageing potential, and can be kept for more than 10 years under the right conditions.
The wines from the Léon Barral estate are marked by a great deal of freshness, fine tannins and a fine maturity thanks to this very special 100% schist Faugères terroir. They are both terroir wines and, without exaggeration, artist's wines that are a must to discover.
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