LEON BARRAL 2005 FAUGERES

  

Barral is something of a “Yoda” to the region regarding winemaking and biodynamics in particular,  which he had been practicing long before it became ‘fashionable.’  His 2005 Faugeres is deeply colored and packed with blackberry fruit laced with notes of pepper and the Provencal herbs that grow in the countryside.  This is the opposite of slick, instead showing honest depth and purity of fruit, chewy structure underpinnings and an undefinable vibrance.  It is sophisticated, soulful ‘country’ wine with all of the complexity implied.  The blend, a now more typical (thanks to a Carignan renaissance of sorts) 50% Carignan, 40% Grenache, 10% Cinsault sourced from 30-60 year old vines harvested at a low, low 30-35 hl/ha.  No oak, no filtration, no racking, no added sulfur, just plenty of good wine.