Rhone Valley
Domaine du Coulet, Matthieu Barret
Cornas
“Matthieu Barret represents the future in Cornas. His domaine is, in my opinion, the single most exciting new domaine in the appellation today.” High praise from the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth.
Domaine du Coulet was founded by Matthieu’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.
From the beginning, Matthieu has employed natural, organic practices and by 2002 (his second year of production) the domaine received its biodynamic certification. With each vintage, Matthieu has gained a better understanding of his vine parcels and through thoughtful experimentation, he now turns out a remarkable selection of Cornas wines that express the unique nuances of each micro-terroir. No new oak, no racking, minimal use of sulfur and no fining or filtration. Pure, sexy Syrah.
Domaine Facts
| Vines: |
Approximately 25 acres of the appellation’s 225 total planted entirely to Syrah Multiple parcels on the same mountain; summit, mid-slope and base Certified organic by Ecocert and certfied biodynamic by Biodyvin. |
| Wines: |
Cornas Brise Cailloux: Young vines and bottom of slope grapes aged in cement eggs Cornas Terrasses du Serre: Blend of three mid-slope parcels with different exposures Cornas Billes Noires (Black Marbles): From 55-year-old vines at the Summit of Arlettes Cornas Gore: Special selection of Coulet’s best old vines bottled only in magnum |
| Soil: | Decomposed granite gore (small crumbly pebbles composed of granite sand) over base of Jurassic limestone and clay marl. |
| Harvest: | Moderately steep slopes require manual harvest using small bins. |
| Yields: | 25 hectoliters/hectare on average—Brise Cailloux averges 35 hl/hectare Miniscule 20 hl/hectare for Billes Noires and Gore cuvées |
| Vinification & Elevage: |
100% de-stemming. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Pigéage (punching down) once a day for three weeks. Elevage for three top cuvees takes place in 400 liter neutral barrels (none newer than five-years-old) for a period of 18 months. Brise Cailloux aged in combination of older barrels and cement eggs (600 liters and 1600 liters) Wines are not racked, reducing need for sulfur. No fining or filtration. |
| Annual Production: | 15,000 bottles / 1250 cases of Cornas wines combined on average yearly basis Billes Noires and Gore produced only in exceptional vintages. |