Vignoble Paul Barre

Vignoble Paul Barre

Bordeaux, France

Paul Barre made his presence known quickly after taking over his great-grandfather’s estate Château La Grave in 1974. He immediately began to question the status quo of farming methods and viticultural techniques from that of his neighbors, and in turn became a pioneer of organic viticulture in Bordeaux. In 1982, Paul also took over the tiny estate Château La Fleur Cailleau. While the 1990s saw most Bordeaux producers attempt to expand their holdings and increase their yields to the maximum, Paul was quietly reducing his domaine from fifteen to seven hectares and fully converting his estates to biodynamics. Paul first received organic certification back in 1993. Demeter certified in 1998, and confirmed in 2008. His son Gabriel and daughter-in- law Edith have taken over his domaine and continue to honor Paul by farming the land as Paul taught them. They use a horse to plough the soil, harvest all grapes by hand and prioritize freshness and delicacy over power.

2019

Vignoble Paul Barre

‘Château La Grave’

Fronsac Rouge

Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec

The family’s flagship Fronsac “Château La Grave” is Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Merlot grown in the ideal trinity of clay, limestone and sand. It is sturdy and accessible, with library book musk, potpourri, dried cherry, cacao all informing a deep, juicy-but-structured wine whose color (and soul) could easily be described as “Bordeaux”.