Domaine Léon Barral : Valinière 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes for the "Valinière" 2022 cuvée from Domaine Léon Barral

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a dark, deep red hue, verging on garnet, with a beautiful opacity that reflects this wine's great concentration.

Nose
The nose opens with intense aromas of ripe black fruits, such as blackcurrant and blackberry, intimately intertwined with scents of garrigue. It then evolves towards mineral notes of stone, delicate touches of violet, as well as indulgent nuances of dark chocolate and roasted coffee.

Palate
Full-bodied and structured, the palate offers tannins that are both fine and powerful, perfectly integrated. It retains a remarkable freshness supported by an omnipresent minerality that brings tension and depth. The finish is long and elegant, marked by notes of spice, Provence herbs and a delicate, lingering saline touch.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine pairs wonderfully with rich, flavourful dishes such as lamb tagine with dried fruits, roast wild boar with mushrooms or a grilled herb-crusted rib of beef. It will also pair very well with truffle-roasted vegetables, roasted poultry or aged cheeses.

Service and storage

With a fine structure, the "Valinière" 2022 cuvée has excellent ageing potential and can be enjoyed until around 2037.

The minerality and depth of a great red wine from Domaine Léon Barral

The estate

Founded in 1933 as a cooperative, Domaine Léon Barral truly took off in the early 1990s under the leadership of its current owner, Didier Barral, joined by his brother Jean-Luc. Located in the Languedoc region of France, the estate spans around sixty hectares. A pioneer of biodynamics in the region, the estate stands out for its polyculture-livestock farming philosophy, integrating agroforestry and animal grazing within the plots to preserve the ecosystem and enhance the authentic expression of its terroirs.

The vineyard

Located within the Faugères appellation, the vineyard rises to around 300 metres in altitude on steep, south-facing slopes. The vines root deeply into complex soils dominated by schist, with alternating layers of red and blue slate that naturally regulate heat and water. Farmed biodynamically, the vineyard is a true ecosystem where biodiversity reigns supreme: natural grass cover, grazing Jersey cows, the planting of thousands of trees and the installation of bat boxes all contribute to the natural balance of the plots.

The vintage

2022 was marked by particularly hot and dry weather conditions in the Mediterranean basin. Persistent drought and intense heat during the ripening phase led to early phenolic maturity in the grapes. Thanks to the resilience of the soils and the estate's farming practices, the vines were able to withstand this water stress, yielding highly concentrated berries.

Winemaking and ageing

The grapes for the "Valinière" 2022 cuvée are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness. Whole clusters are placed in vats for a long maceration of around a month, punctuated by daily punching down of the cap. Fermentation begins naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts. The wine is then aged for 18 to 24 months in oak foudres, with a small proportion of new wood of around 10%. The wine is naturally stabilised with very few rackings, and without any fining or filtration before bottling.

Grape varieties

Mourvèdre (80%), Syrah (20%).