Domaine Léon Barral : Jadis 2007

Characteristics and tasting advice for Jadis 2007 from Domaine Léon Barral

Tasting

Color

A delicate ruby-red hue tending toward garnet, reflecting its evolution.

Nose

Highly expressive, the bouquet reveals intense aromas of ripe black fruits, notably blackcurrant and wild blackberry. It gradually unfolds complex secondary notes of fine leather, wild garrigue, and a subtle stony minerality that reflects the schist terroir. Hints of licorice and sweet spices round out this aromatic palette.

Palate

The palate opens with a generous, fleshy texture, carried by bright acidity and particularly fine, seamlessly integrated tannins. The well-balanced structure combines fruit richness with invigorating freshness. The tannins, while present and structuring, are defined by a silky texture. The finish is remarkable and persistent, with flavors that evolve and gain complexity over time.

Food and wine pairings

This Faugères is an ideal match for boldly seasoned red meats and game dishes. It pairs particularly well with roasted or braised lamb with herbs, beef in a reduced sauce, as well as feathered and furred game such as wild duck, pheasant, or wild boar prepared in rustic, peppery styles.

An authentic, complex Faugères wine from Domaine Léon Barral

The estate

The Domaine Léon Barral was founded in the 1990s by Didier Barral and his brother Jean-Luc in the hamlet of Lenthéric, near Béziers in the Hérault. Didier Barral, representing the thirteenth generation of winegrowers, now leads this sixty-hectare estate, around thirty of which are devoted to viticulture. A pioneer of biodynamics in the Languedoc as early as 1995, the estate embodies a revolutionary approach combining ecosystem-friendly farming practices with a minimalist philosophy of natural winemaking. The estate is recognized as an essential benchmark for the Faugères appellation and contemporary Languedoc.

The vineyard

Located in the hamlet of Lenthéric at around three hundred meters of altitude, the Jadis 2007 vineyard benefits from a direct southern exposure. The vines grow on exceptional schist soils made up of iron-rich red layers alternating with blue strata. This geological structure forces the roots to penetrate deep into the substrate, down to nine meters. Carignan, the flagship grape variety of this cuvée, comes from thirty- to sixty-year-old vines planted across ten hectares of schist slopes. The vines are trained in goblet form, and the estate practices biodynamic farming with the integration of a herd of cattle that grazes in the vineyards, providing natural fertilization.

Vinification and aging

The grapes for Jadis 2007 are harvested by hand, with selective sorting in the vineyard. Fermentation is carried out exclusively with indigenous yeasts in gravity-fed concrete vats. Extended maceration lasts three to four weeks with regular manual pump-overs. No oenological inputs are added during vinification: no selected yeasts, no nutrients, and no enzymes. Aging takes place in older barrels with only ten percent new oak.

Grape varieties

This wine from Faugères is a blend of Carignan (50%), Syrah (30%) and Grenache (20%).