2021 Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf-du-Pape Pure, Southern Rhone

The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Pure showed beautifully and is clearly up with the finest in the vintage. Ripe darker cherries, spring flowers, peppery garrigue, and some earthy, spicy nuances all shine, and it's medium-bodied, elegant, and seamless, with beautiful tannins. As with most of the top 2021s, it's all about finesse and elegance and is already impossible to resist. It should evolve for 10-12 years with no issues.

94 points jebdunnuck.com

Domaine La Barroche Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pure is one of the Rhône Valley’s most captivating expressions of old-vine Grenache. Made entirely from a single ancient parcel planted in 1901 on the sandy soils of the Grand Pierre lieu-dit near Rayas, this wine is an ode to finesse, transparency and the haunting beauty of great Grenache grown in the right place.

Winemaker Julien Barrot, who represents the new generation at La Barroche, combines deep respect for tradition with a sensitive touch in the cellar. The grapes are handpicked, fermented with whole clusters, and aged in old demi-muids to preserve the purity and aromatic lift of the fruit without any overt oak influence.

In the glass, Pure lives up to its name. It opens with intoxicating aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry, dried rose, white pepper and crushed herbs. The palate is weightless yet intense, gliding with silken texture and vivid energy. There’s incredible precision and length, with mineral freshness that defies the southern sun. It’s a wine of both emotion and restraint, more about perfume and finesse than brute power.

Best served with dishes that respect its elegance—think roast quail, duck with cherry glaze, truffle risotto or mushroom tart. It will age effortlessly for 15 to 20 years, becoming more complex and ethereal over time.