Chateau Barrabaque Cuvee Antoine, Canon Fronsac

Description

Chateau Barrabaque Cuvee Antoine is a red wine from the Bordeaux wine-growing region. It is a small, 9 hectare estate located on the right bank of the river Gironde in the Canon Fronsac appellation, not far from Pomerol and Saint-Emilion.

Chateau Barrabaque is owned by the Famille Noel. Their association with the estate began in 1936 when wine merchant Achille Noel purchased the estate. The estate itself dates back to the 18th Century. Under the guidance of Nicole Noel the estate became regarded as one of the best in Canon Fronsac. Since 2004 the estate has been under the stewardship of dynamic winemaker Caroline Noel-Barroux. Caroline is one of the rising stars of the appellation and combines both traditional and modern techniques of cultivation and winemaking to produce high quality wines.

Chateau Barrabaque consists of 10 hectares located on south-facing slopes overlooking the Dordogne River which straddle both the Fronsac and Canon Fronsac appellation. The vineyards are mainly planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The soils here are primarily clay and limestone. The estate produces four red wine cuvées, a white and a rosé.

The owners follow the eco-friendly policy of integrated agriculture (lutte raisonnée) and are committed to protecting the environment. Careful vineyard management (de-budding, green pruning, allowing grass to grow between rows) allows the vineyards to produce optimum yields and the estate has eliminated the use of all chemical herbicides and insecticides using only products that respect the existing fauna.

Chateau Barrabaque Cuvée Antoine is a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from vines with an average age of 35 years old. The grapes are harvested by hand and there is a double sorting at the Chateau before destemming the grapes. The grapes undergo a period of cold maceration followed by temperature-regulated fermentation in cement vats. The wine is then aged for 12 to 15 months in second and third fill barrels.

Annual production is around 25,000 bottles.