Winemaker Notes
Les Hauts de Barville Chateauneuf-du-Pape offers ripe mulberry and strawberry notes abound from nose to finish, accented by hints of sweet spice and dried Mediterranean herbs. While rich and plush in body, it has brisk, integrated acidity and finely edged tannins that lend elegant structure.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts De Barville checks in as a blend of 70% Grenache and equal parts Syrah and Mourvèdre raised in a combination of foudre, new and used barrels, and concrete. It's another pretty, floral, perfumed wine from this estate that shines for its balance and elegance. Wild strawberries, mulberries, spice, and Provençal garrigue give way to a medium-bodied, nicely balanced, elegant 2022 that will shine right out of the gate. Barrel Sample: (90-92)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Crafted from vines planted in the Pignan, Saint Vierge, Bédine, Beaurenard, Pradel and Palestor plots, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hauts de Barville evokes aromas of cherries, garrigue, spices, violets and dark wild berries. Medium to full-bodied, tense and fresh, it’s round and fleshy with a delicate core of fruit and a long, ethereal finish. Built around a classic core of fruit, this is a harmonious red wine composed of 60% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah and 5% Cinsault.
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Wine Spectator
Polished and glossy, with supple waves of cassis and red currant flecked with a lot of spice and singed garrigue. Warm chestnut and graphite shavings move in, with loads of graphite bringing focus. A modern version, showing poise and polish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. Drink now through 2035. 2,000 cases made, 800 cases imported.
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James Suckling
Rich and fleshy with substantial depth, this is a bold and full-bodied Chateauenuf. Full red berry and dry earth aromas with some balsamic character. The full, soft tannins nicely underpin this expansive wine.
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Vinous
Mixing 70% Grenache with the rest equally divided between Syrah and Mourvèdre, the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Hauts de Barville evokes ripe strawberry, licorice, black cherry, cedar and garrigue. Structured and savory, the 2022 maintains its freshness well and culminates in a layered finale
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2022 Brotte Les Hauts de Barville is a stylish Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This wine shows aromas and flavors of rustic earth, savory spices, and nice, balancing oaky notes. Pair it with a simple beef stew. (Tasted: March 6, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.