MATTHIEU BARRET "PETIT OURS"

MATTHIEU BARRET "PETIT OURS" is a red wine from the Rhône Valley, made from 100% Syrah from young vines. Petit Ours is fermented with native yeasts and aged in concrete to preserve freshness and energy. The result is a fruit-forward Syrah with notes of blackberry, black cherry, and crushed violets, accented by hints of cracked pepper and a touch of herbs.

Matthieu Barret was born in Aix-en-Provence in 1975 and studied viticulture in Beaune. He is the 7th generation vigneron, joining his grandfather in Cornas in 1997. In Beaune, Matthieu Barret discovered immediately his proclivity with organic viticulture and with living ecosystems. Beginning with the first vintage in 2000, Matthieu worked principally in the vineyard, applying his hand with organic viticulture. Not content with his end result, in 2006 he decided to radically change his vinification process by using less barrels and replacing them with concrete eggs. His ongoing evolution and pursuit of purity and expression continue to dominate his chais. In 2012, he stopped using machines in Cornas and replaced them with mules, horses, and manual labor. He also started to create ‘green spaces’ around the farm, digging watering holes to nourish an ecosystem with a diversity of species. ie: vines and the forest, meadows and woodlands. According to Matthieu, the plant is happier in a wild environment rather than in a desert comprised of only vines. This diversity brings a distinct identity to his grapes; when the vineyard biome is treated with respect, he says, this balance is easier to maintain.

This wine is versatile and pairs well with a variety of dishes, including grilled meats, hearty stews, or a selection of cheeses.