Wines Gone Wild – Domaine Barroubio Cuvee Henry - Greene Grape

Join us tonight 6-8pm at the wine store to sample this 100% Carignan unicorn of a wine (rare, fleeting and beautiful).

In 2009, one of our favorite importers convinced his friend and current winemaker at Domaine de Barroubio to bottle a cuvee sourced solely from a plot of 125 year old Carignan vines. The winemaker subsequently named the unique wine in celebration of the importer’s first child, born that same year. ‘Cuvee Henry’ is an unabashed celebration of Carignan, a geeky, idiosyncratic grape that is usually used to fortify the structure of southern French blends. When sourced from young vines, it results in somewhat challenging reds that are not altogether enjoyable. But as the vines age and if the yields are kept low, Carignan produces intriguing wines that display pleasing rusticity, nice structure, abundant spice and dark, perfumed fruits.

With only 300 regular bottles and 150 magnums of Domaine de Barroubio Cuvee Henry 2009 produced, it wasn’t submitted to any publications for review. However, a reviewer for a major publication happened upon a bottle and to the importer’s surprise gave it 90 points for “exceptional complexity and character” and noting that this wine is built to last.

Out of our initial allotment we only have 58 regular bottles ($26) and 11 magnums ($48) left because 2 members of our staff treated themselves to a bottle before it hit the shelves and we put aside a magnum for our staff party next week. To order, call us at (718) 797-9463.