# Les Hauts de Barville (2020)

- **Producer:** Brotte
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
- **Region:** Rhône, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 18–19 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** red cherry, strawberry, dried herbs, raspberry, black cherry, mulberry, violet, blackberry, vanilla, chocolate, wood smoke, cloves, mushroom, warm earth, dried fruit

## About this wine

Les Hauts de Barville Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020 is a red blend from Maison Brotte, a family-owned producer with a long history in the Rhône Valley since 1931. The wine originates from the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation in the Southern Rhône, known for its distinctive terroir. Maison Brotte has a legacy of pioneering Rhône wine exports and preserving regional heritage, including establishing a Wine Museum. This particular vintage, 2020, is noted for its complexity and textured profile.

## Interesting facts

- Brotte was a pioneer in exporting Rhône wines.
- The estate founded a unique Wine Museum in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
- The blend is dominated by Grenache, a key grape of the Southern Rhône.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium+ body and silky tannins complement the richness of proteins like lamb, beef, and game. Its fruit-forward character and subtle spice notes harmonize with herbs and earthy flavors, while its balanced acidity can cut through richer sauces.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for Les Hauts de Barville Châteauneuf-du-Pape involves meticulous vineyard management, including de-budding, de-leafing, and green harvesting to control yields. Grapes are hand-picked, de-stemmed, and gently crushed. Fermentation occurs at 28°C with a 3-4 week maceration. Aging involves French oak barrels for the more tannic varietals and concrete vats and old oak casks for softer Grenache. The wine is bottled after a year of aging and light filtering.