Home > Producer Profiles > Bordeaux Profiles > Chateau Barreyres

Chateau Barreyres

Chateau Barreyres is located near Arcins, in the central Médoc, the spread of land between the more famous communes of St Julien to the north and Margaux to the south. It enjoys a good position close to the Gironde, some more inland neighbours including Chateau Chasse-Spleen, Chateau Maucaillou and Chateau d'Arnauld.

The chateau is today owned by the Castel group which controls a number of other properties and wine brands across France and also further afield. The Castel family purchased the property from the descendants of Baron Dupérier de Larsan in 1971. Prior to that the estate's history, including that of the handsome chateau, stretched back to the late 19th Century. The Castel family expanded the estate to over 200 hectares, although only about half are planted up. The vineyards are located on clay with some outcrops of gravel and sand, and the encépagement is a fairly typical combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Production of Chateau Barreyres sits at about 55000 cases per annum; the wines are said to be like a Margaux in character, and in my experience quality varies significantly with the vintage.

Chateau Barreyres warrants its own profile on Winedoctor as it holds a special place in my own wine education. Tasted blind, twenty or more years ago, it was a wine that attracted my attention with its super-ripe minty blackcurrant fruit and glossy feel, and it is perhaps in some small way responsible for me turning my attention towards Bordeaux. Many people recall moments tasting great wine for the first time, but for me a taste of the wine from this humble property is one that has stuck in my mind. I'm afraid I can't remember which vintage that was now, but its legacy remains all the same; I try not to let a vintage pass without tasting Barreyres, while it remains easily available at least, if for no other reason than simple sentiment. That said, in good vintages - such as 2000 or 2005 - this wine can offer superb value-for-money. (21/9/04, updated 31/7/09)

Contact details:
Address: Castel Frères, 21-24 rue G.Guynemer, 33290 Blanquefort
Telephone: +33 (0) 5 56 95 54 00
Fax: +33 (0) 5 56 95 54 20
Internet: www.castel-freres.fr

Chateau Barreyres - Tasting Notes

Click to locate stockists.

Chateau Barreyres (Haut-Médoc) 2005: A lovely glossy hue here, more so than the 2004, but vibrant rather than rich or creamy. The nose has plenty of expressive fruit, dried cranberry and crunchy cherry. It has a lovely cool style on entry, fresh and crisp, beautifully defined, with good delineating acidity. This is fresh and savoury rather than creamy or textured, but very good with it. A reserved style, which I think would do nicely in the cellar for a couple of years, but good now especially with food. 16.5/20 (July 2009)

Chateau Barreyres (Haut-Médoc) 2004: Sweet fruit with a cranberry and crunchy blackcurrant style on the nose. There is also some creamy, peppered oak apparent. A nicely textured palate, some substance and extract too. Fresh, crunchy fruit with a lean to moderate texture, all sitting together very nicely. There is a soft background layer of tannin though, with a slightly charcoaly character. Moderate acidity. It has a slightly unfocused finish but there is still some nice style here, the crisp cranberry and stony red fruits accompanied by a little violet. A good effort. 15.5/20 (July 2009)

Chateau Barreyres (Haut-Médoc) 2003: A lovely deep colour when decanted, plainly rich but not black or opaque, a welcome sign. The nose kicks off with a blast of super-ripe fruit, firmly in the blueberry-blackcurrant arena. In the glass it opens up further, tossing up some background buttery oak, roasted coffee and a clear, vibrant, smoky charcoal. It starts off rather spirity and off-putting, but with a little time I really warm to the nose. The palate has a welcoming, plump, rounded entry with a soft, open-knit style, fairly firm although not unobtrusive tannins and low acidity. It maintains a slightly reserved character through the midpalate though, despite the obvious fruit, so it remains identifiably claret. The only twinge of concern is on the finish, where suddenly it all looks a little attenuated and stretched, as the fruit fades and the structure persists with a slightly inky presence. A good wine, not for anything other than short-term keeping. For label images and more see my Wine of the Week write-up. 16/20 (September 2006)

Chateau Barreyres (Haut-Médoc) 2002: Moderate depth of colour. Nice but not exuberant blackcurrant fruit on the nose, with occasional notes of liquorice and plenty of woody smoke. Entry is on the lean side and this stays the same through the midpalate. Some good youthful redcurrant and blackcurrant flavour, with some wood still showing. Tannins a little out of keeping with the substance of the wine at present but this may change over the next year or two. In all honesty lacks a little flesh. May improve as the tannins harmonise though. 13.5+/20 (September 2004)

Chateau Barreyres (Haut-Médoc) 2001: Good, fresh colour that has only just lost the hue of youth. Classic nose, with cedary fruit and wood-smoke, with just a little oak still present. Plenty of sharp tannins on the palate, vibrant acidity, and bright, crunchy, blackcurrant fruit. Medium body but with a full, persistent slightly fleshy oil-edged texture. A grippy tannic finish and good length. I like this. Further evidence that 2001 may be an under-rated vintage, hidden in the limelight of 2000. 15.5+/20 (September 2004)

Chateau Barreyres (Haut-Médoc) 2000: Lovely, deep, purple-tinged dark red hue. Initially very withdrawn on the nose, but after some time it begins to emerge from its shell. There's smoky, mineral and stony edged blackcurrant fruit, with perfumed violets. Expectations are raised, and pleasingly there's no disappointment on the palate, which has obvious weight and rounded sweetness, and is filled with more smoky blackcurrant fruit. Beautiful structure, tannins with a touch of grip, and cracking acidity. What a package! Eminently approachable, but will repay cellaring. 16.5+/20 (May 2003) Label

Chateau Barreyres (Haut-Médoc) 1999: Vibrant, red colour, with a purple tinge. Classic Cabernet on the nose, As the wine comes from the bottle it gives off gravelly blackcurrant aromas, but with aeration it develops black cherry, cedar and oak. Medium bodied, with good smoky blackcurrant flavour, and spicy background tannins. Good, correct acidity. Approachable now, but will improve. 16+/20 (May 2002) Label

Chateau Barreyres (Haut-Médoc) 1998: A good depth of colour and a youthful, red-purple hue. Although fairly inexpressive on the nose when opened, after two or three hours of aeration in the decanter and glass there was more apparent fruit. Lots of crunchy, smoky blackcurrant and currant aromas. On entry there is an elegant texture, with a medium body and plenty of fruit. Structure is provided by a firm backbone of tannins, with balanced acidity. Overall a slightly tight wine that takes a little time to open out, but it is worth the wait. Nice length. 16.5+/20 (November 2001) Label

Chateau Barreyres (Haut-Médoc) 1997: I've had a soft spot for this chateau for years, it being my first memorable taste of claret. Stony blackcurrant fruit on the nose. On the palate soft but correct acidity, sweetly integrated tannins and moderate extract. Medium bodied. Good blueberry and blackcurrant fruit and a drying, savoury finish. 16/20 (May 2001)