Matthieu Barret Saint Joseph "D86" 2023
We have 12 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land:
Sourced from steep, granitic slopes in the heart of Saint-Joseph, D86 is a pure and unadulterated expression of the appellation’s rugged terroir. The thin, rocky soils force the vines to dig deep, resulting in naturally low yields and concentrated fruit. The Rhône River’s cooling influence tempers the sun-exposed vineyards, preserving freshness and structure. Here, Syrah thrives, producing wines with an unmistakable balance of power, minerality, and finesse—qualities that define the best wines of Saint-Joseph.
The Wine:
Made from 100% Syrah, D86 is possibly named after the D86 route that runs through the Rhône Valley. Vinified with whole-cluster fermentation and native yeasts, then aged exclusively in concrete eggs. This method enhances purity, texture, and energy, allowing the granite-driven precision of the wine to shine. The nose bursts with wild blackberry, black cherry, and violets, intertwined with cracked pepper and a smoky, ferrous minerality. The palate is fresh yet structured, with fine-grained tannins and a long, lifted finish. Without the influence of oak, the wine remains raw, vibrant, and intensely expressive of its terroir.
The People:
Matthieu Barret, the visionary behind Domaine du Coulet, is a 7th-generation vigneron known for redefining Syrah in the Northern Rhône. After taking over his family’s 25 acres in Cornas at just 23, he revolutionized farming and winemaking, shifting to biodynamic viticulture and replacing machinery with horses and manual labor. His philosophy is simple: let nature lead. His vineyards are wild, teeming with life, supported by watering holes and green corridors to promote biodiversity. Vinification follows the same low-intervention ethos—no new oak, no racking, minimal sulfur, and no fining or filtration. The Matthieu Barret range, sourced from leased organic and biodynamic vineyards across the Rhône, is an extension of this philosophy: playful yet serious, joyful yet precise.
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The Rhône Valley is a diverse and historic wine region, divided into two distinct areas. The Northern Rhône is the birthplace of Syrah, with steep, terraced vineyards that produce some of the world's most revered wines, such as those from Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie. The Southern Rhône is much more expansive, offering a wider range of styles, but typically based around Grenache-based blends, with wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape known for their complexity and power. While the region is celebrated for its reds, it also produces incredible textured whites, and as a whole the region displays the spectrum of French wine and the incredible differences that can come from small geographic changes.
Rhone Valley
Syrah is a dark-skinned grape of French origin, specifically from the Northern Rhône Valley, where it produces some of the world's most powerful and complex wines. Known as Shiraz in Australia, Syrah is capable of displaying a wide range of aromas and flavors. Cool climate Syrahs tend to express floral notes like violets, along with savory elements like olives, while those grown in warmer climates like Australia are more likely to show black pepper and dark fruit notes such as plum. The grape's versatility allows it to adapt to various climates and soil types, but it maintains its unique characteristics no matter where it is planted.
