In the glass
Aroma: black plum, leather, tobacco, garrigue, iron
Palate: black fruit, graphite, smoked olive, firm tannin, saline finish
Domaine Léon Barral's flagship cuvée. 80% Mourvèdre dominant from 15-30 year-old vines on 4.3 hectares of schist; aged in barrel (10% new). Built for two decades.
What it pairs with
-
Aged ribeye with bone-marrow
Firm Mourvèdre tannins cut aged beef; iron and bone-marrow find harmony. -
Wild boar civet
Game's depth meets the wine's leather and tobacco core; saline finish balances richness. -
Aged Manchego
Hard sheep cheese crystals find the wine's graphite and smoked olive register. -
Slow-cooked lamb tagine with preserved lemon
Iron and saline finish meet North African aromatics and preserved citrus.
History
Valinière is the flagship of Domaine Léon Barral, sourced from a single 4.3-hectare biodynamic plot planted to 80% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah. The schist of Faugères and the Mediterranean climate suit Mourvèdre's late-ripening discipline. Aged in barrel with 10% new oak.
- 1998 — First vintage of Valinière released
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Léon Barral
- Grapes
- Mourvèdre (80%), Syrah (20%)
- Classification
- AOC Faugères
- Oak
- Aged in barrel; 10% new oak, balance old
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- €55-90 at retail
- Drinking window
- 6-20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1998
- Biodynamic
- Biodynamic Practicing
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Valinière
What does Valinière taste like?
Black plum, leather, tobacco, garrigue and iron on the nose; black fruit, graphite, smoked olive, firm tannin and a saline finish on the palate. Full-bodied with a long finish.
When should I drink Valinière?
Drink between 6 and 20 years from vintage. Younger bottles benefit from 90 minutes of decanting; Mourvèdre's tannins integrate slowly.
What food pairs with Valinière?
Aged ribeye with bone-marrow is the canonical match; wild boar civet and aged Manchego are equally strong pairings.
What grapes are in Valinière?
80% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah from 15-30 year-old vines on 4.3 hectares of schist at Domaine Léon Barral in Faugères.