Brotte 'Les Hauts de Barville' Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Rhone, France 2023

Color: Straw yellow with golden highlights. Nose: White flowers and white-fleshed stone fruits evolving into notes of buttery hazelnuts. Honey hints develop over ageing. Palate: Mouth-filling and plump with honey and fresh ripe fruits (peach, white currant). Great length with an elegant citrus finish.

About the Producer

Domaine Barville is Laurent Brotte’s family estate. The 15ha vineyard is situated on the west side of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and is composed of 7 parcels spread over two of the best areas of the appellation: Clay and pebbles at ‘Pradel’ and shattered limestone at ‘Beaurenard’. The vines have an average age of 35 years and, at an elevation of 100m, dominate the Rhône River which, with the local wind ‘The Mistral’, brings an exceptional healthy microclimate. Its south facing position is ideal for perfect maturation of the berries. TERRA VITIS labelled sustainable viticulture, de-budding, de-leafing and green harvest to limit the yield and increase the quality. Hand-picking into small cases and fast transportation to the winery to avoid berries’ crushing and oxidation. Desteming, gentle crushing. Fermentation at 28°C, followed by a 3 week maceration. The tannic Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre are aged in French oak barrels (1/3 new, 1/3 one wine, 1/3 two wines), while the softer Grenache is matured in concrete vats and 100 year old oak vats to preserve the fruit. Bottling takes place in March, after more than a year of ageing and a light filtering