2011 Domaine La Barroche, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Signature, Rhone Red, France.
La Barrocche’s 2011Signature Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge is savory and intense wine with tons of unique character and robust flavors, not your typical Chateauneuf at all. This red comes at you with loads of spice, chalky minerals and a good dose of tannins with subtle, almost hidden fruit which is very backward for a Grenache based wine, in fact this wound up Chateauneuf will need plenty of time to fully reveal itself, but it is still very seductive and intriguing now with a huge mouth filling palate of salted black licorice, briny iodine, soy, kirsch and plum flavors, with some air and plenty of coaxing there is more boysenberry and hints of a strawberry/lavender essence. This serious and austere wine finishes with gripping tannin and is severely dry and dusty. There’s tons of potential here, and the fruit and richness should flow freely in time, but patience and forethought will be required to get the best out of this wine, my best guess would be drink from 2018-2022. That said, I really like the savage force found here and I like the overbearing salted tangy black licorice, but I’m weird that way, best to serve young with food, lamb or prime rib sound like good ideas.
($56 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
