Varietal mix 36% Merlot
26% Cabernet Franc
25% Syrah
10% Malbec
3% Cabernet Sauvignon

Maturing 25% new barrels

Tasting notes

A deep and intense red with a subtle purplish tinge, Domaine de Baronarques 2023 is a complex, rich and engaging wine with an attractive aromatic intensity.
Aromas of ripe black fruit such as black cherry are accompanied by spicy and slightly herby notes, complemented by delicate floral touches and hints of black pepper, liquorice and raspberry.
Generous on the palate, its creamy texture and roundness are balanced by a radiant freshness, while supple tannins convey the sheer energy of a wine that combines density with persistence, leaving an impression of perfect harmony enhanced by a lingering touch of black fruit.

After a mild and relatively dry winter, especially in February, the vine growth cycle started early. Budbreak began on 20 March for the Chardonnay, in line with 2022. For the red grape varieties it occurred slightly later, from 5 to 13 April, after a cold snap at the beginning of the month which brought some frost, though our plots remained unaffected.

Flowering started in late May for the Chardonnay and early June for the Cabernet Sauvignon in almost tropical conditions, as 180mm aggregate rainfall over the two months was compounded by very warm weather, especially in June. These conditions spurred the spread of mildew, causing some crop loss, mainly of Merlot grapes. A north-west wind then settled in, halting the spread of mildew and keeping the crop healthy until harvest. The weather in July and early August was somewhat cooler, so that veraison occurred rather later and lasted longer than usual. Temperatures subsequently rose above 43° C in the shade over a four-day period during a heatwave from 17 to 24 August. However, water reserves in the soil ensured that the vines got enough water, avoiding the kind of adverse hydric stress that can halt the maturing process. Hot weather and low rainfall in September made for small grapes, reducing yields for red grape varieties. The white-grape harvest took place from 29 August to 8 September and the red-grape harvest from 12 September to 4 October, all in perfect conditions.