Jadis by Domaine Léon Barral

Structure

Bodyfull

Tanninfirm

Aciditymedium

Sweetnessdry

Finishlong

Oaknew oak

Drinking window

Best 5 to 18 years from vintage.

vintage5 yrs18 yrs20 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninMedium acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: black cherry, schist, wild thyme, violet, iron

Palate: black fruit, graphite, olive tapenade, fine-grained tannin

Mid-tier biodynamic Faugères from Léon Barral, named Jadis (formerly). Carignan-Syrah-Grenache from schist; cement and old oak. A cellar wine in the making.

What it pairs with

Slow-braised lamb with garlic and thyme
Schist minerality and graphite meet slow-cooked lamb; thyme echoes the wine.
Wild boar daube
Game finds depth in the wine's iron and olive tapenade register.
Aged sheep's milk cheese
Old-vine Carignan structure and fine-grained tannin meet hard sheep cheese.
Truffle pasta
Black fruit and violet aromatics find earthy depth in black truffle.

How to serve Jadis

Allow 90 minutes from open to pour.

Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving for vintages under 10 years old; pour into a wide decanter so the unfiltered, unfined Faugères can breathe and integrate.
Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature is the band. Below 15 the schist minerality shuts down; above 19 the alcohol pushes forward over the iron and olive register.
Glassware. Use a large Burgundy-style bowl - wide enough to release the violet and wild thyme aromatics that define biodynamic Barral.
Pair with the food. Slow-braised lamb with garlic and thyme, wild boar daube, or aged sheep's milk cheese. The wine wants slow-cooked fat and savoury depth.

History

Jadis is Domaine Léon Barral's mid-tier cuvée, sourced from older Carignan, Syrah and Grenache plots on Faugères schist. Aged in cement and old oak demi-muids; no new wood, no fining, no filtration.

1996: First vintage of Jadis released
2002: Estate certified biodynamic

Facts

Producer: Domaine Léon Barral · visiting guide
Grapes: Carignan, Syrah, Grenache
Classification: AOC Faugères
Oak: Aged in cement tank and old oak demi-muid; no new oak
ABV: 14.0%
Price: €40-60 at retail
Drinking window: 5-18 from vintage
First vintage: 1996
Biodynamic: Biodynamic Practicing
Organic: ORGANIC CERTIFIED
Vegan: Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Frequently asked about Jadis

What does Jadis taste like?

Black cherry, schist, wild thyme, violet and iron on the nose; black fruit, graphite, olive tapenade and fine-grained tannin on the palate. Full-bodied with a long finish.

When should I drink Jadis?

Drink between 5 and 18 years from vintage. The wine benefits from 90 minutes of decanting in younger vintages.

What food pairs with Jadis?

Slow-braised lamb with garlic and thyme is the canonical match; wild boar daube and aged sheep's milk cheese are equally strong pairings.

How long is Jadis aged?

Aged in cement tanks and old oak demi-muids; no new oak. No fining or filtration before bottling, in line with Didier Barral's biodynamic philosophy.

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