Matthieu Barret, Cornas 'Brise Cailloux' 2021

Producer: Matthieu Barret, Domaine du Coulet
Region: Cornas, Rhône Valley, France
Varietals: Syrah
Viticulture: Certified Organic & Biodynamic
Category: Red
Size: 750ml

One of the most coveted natural wines in France. From legendary winemaker Matthieu Barret of Domaine de Coulet in Cornas. The Matthieu Barret labelled wines are from a leased organic and biodynamic vineyard in Visan, about an hour South of the Domaine.

The selection of Syrah for this wine came from old and young vines located throughout the estate with the exception of the Coteaux peaks and foothills. The purity of the fruit is due in part to its 18 months of maturation, which combined the use of oval-shaped concrete fermenters and 500-litre barrels. 

He is the 7th generation vigneron and joined his grandfather in Cornas in 1997. Previously, his family had only been farming and selling grapes. He practices biodynamic viticulture, obtaining very low yields (23 hl/ha) and extraordinary quality. He describes his wines as being 100% grape, with a very low sulphite addition. His wines are extremely clean, and, true to the Cornas character. Domaine du Coulet was founded by Matthieu Barret’s grandfather after WWII, and over the years has supplied grapes to some of the best known producers in the Northern Rhône, including Chapoutier and Delas. While his father eschewed the agrarian lifestyle, opting instead for a career in international business, Matthieu knew early on that he wanted to be a vigneron. In 1998 at the age of only 23, he took over the family’s 25 acres of well-situated vines on the terraced hillsides of Cornas.