2015 Brotte Secret de Barville Chateauneuf du Pape

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• 93pts, WA
• 93pt Vintage, WA
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About the Wine

BROTTE was founded in 1931 by Charles Brotte, in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Ahead of his time, Charles Brotte was one of the first to bottle his wine and to engage in marketing a branded wine, rather than selling bulk wine. His son, Jean-Pierre Brotte pioneered development of the export markets, from the 50’s. Laurent Brotte has been owner and CEO since 1998 and has extended the holdings. His son Thibault serves as an ambassador for the winery, and his son Benoît is a winemaker in training. Laurent’s wife, Christine, is in charge of vineyards and oversees wine production. Brotte owns estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Domaine Barville, AOP Châteauneuf-du-Pape), Cairanne (Domaine Grosset, AOP Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne) and Laudun (Chateau de Bord, AOP Côtes du Rhône Villages Laudun). If you visit the winery, you will find hospitable staff, outstanding wines and even an educational wine museum and visitor’s center on premise.

For the last 11 years, Christine Brotte, cellar master and Laurent Brotte’s wife, has been directing activities on the estates and in the cellar. She is assisted by two oenologists and a food products engineer. All long time employees, driven by the same passion for wines. When she’s not taking care of her children, managing vineyards and the winery, she loves to cook traditional southern French cassoulet and ratatouille, both of which pair perfectly with her wines.

Blend: 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre 

Ageing: 20% New French Oak

Reviews

When large concerns like Brotte prove themselves capable of making wines as good as the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Secret Barville, it should raise expectations for the rest of the range. The Secret Barville is full-bodied, plush and velvety, stuffed with vanilla, Bing cherries and ripe tannin and lingers nicely on the finish. It shows enough concentration to warrant medium-term cellaring. ~93WA

The only 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape I was able to taste, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Secret Barville sports a deeper ruby color to go with impressive notes of currants, tapenade, tobacco leaf and spice. Layered, ripe and supple on the palate, with sweet tannin, it's a total charmer that has loads to love. This cuvée is a blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre that was completely destemmed and aged 18 months in 20% new barrels, with the balance in stainless steel.

Located in Chateauneuf du Pape, Domaine Brotte releases a bevy of high-quality wines from throughout the Southern Rhône Valley. In most cases, these are terrific values. ~92JD

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