Domaine Julien Barge Côte Brune Côte Rôtie 2016

Domaine Julien Barge Côte Brune Côte Rôtie 2016

Julien Barge Côte Brune Côte Rôtie made its debut in 1996. The wine is produced from mostly Syrah with a bit of Viognier that varies from 1-3% for good measure. This is his flagship wine with their oldest vines, many of which date back to 1952. The grapes are not destemmed. The wine is aged in used 600 liter barrels for about 30 months before bottling.

Barge owns vines on the Cote Brune and the Cote Blonde in the Combard, Boucharey, Lancement and Chavanay lieux-dits. Their oldest vines were planted in 1946, in the Baleyat lieu-dit. On average, their vines are more than 50 years of age.

The wines are vinified in tank. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. The wine is aged in a combination of 3 various barrel sizes, 228 liter, 550 liter demi-muids and used oak barrels that range from 12 to 25 hectoliters. New oak barrels are not really used here, except when barrels or vats need to be replaced. The barrels generally range in age from 2-8 years of age, or older.
Domaine Gilles Barge produces 5 Cote Rotie wines:

Reviews

Wine Spectator – “Still youthfully coiled up, with a core of pure cassis, cherry and plum fruit waiting in reserve, while singed alder, incense, bergamot tea and iron notes cruise through. The finish displays tightly drawn curtains of grip for now. Should be a stunner when it opens fully. Syrah and Viognier. Best from 2022 through 2040.” (96 Pts)

Jeb Dunnuck – “The 2016 Julien Barge Côte Brune Côte Rôtie offers a more masculine, heady perfume of crushed rocks, iodine, Asian spice, and cured meats, with plenty of sweet Syrah fruit rounding out the bouquet. Medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, deep, and layered, it’s going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and drink brilliantly for 15+ years.” (93 Pts)

Vinous – “Fresh dark berry, floral and olive scents show very good clarity and a hint of smoky minerality. Sweet, palate-staining blackberry and floral pastille flavors deepen slowly with air and pick up a licorice note on the back half. Rich but energetic as well, finishing with firm back-end cut, fine-grained tannins and persistent exotic spice notes.” (92 Pts)