Côtes du Rhône Petit Ours Domaine du Coulet Matthieu Barret 2024

The Côtes du Rhône Petit Ours Domaine du Coulet Matthieu Barret 2024 offers a particularly fresh, juicy, and immediate expression of Rhône Syrah grown on granite and clay-limestone soils around Cornas. Conceived as an accessible gateway into Matthieu Barret’s universe, “Petit Ours” highlights purity of fruit, energy, and remarkable drinkability, while still carrying the mineral signature of its origins.

At the Domaine du Coulet Matthieu Barret, the vines are farmed biodynamically with the same rigor applied to the estate’s Cornas wines. Winemaking is natural and low-intervention, and aging is deliberately discreet to preserve the aromatic brightness of the grapes. The 2024 vintage, marked by beautiful ripeness and excellent sanitary balance, produced expressive fruit while retaining notable freshness.

In the glass, a bright ruby color with violet reflections signals a lively and vibrant wine. The nose opens with generous aromas of fresh blackberry, crushed raspberry, and violet, accompanied by classic notes of black pepper, olive, and a subtle smoky touch. With aeration, hints of warm stone and dry earth emerge, recalling the wine’s mineral origins.

On the palate, the texture is supple, lively, and highly approachable. Fine, well-integrated tannins support a core of juicy dark fruit crossed by a fresh mineral thread. The balance between fruit intensity, tension, and lightness makes the wine immediately appealing while preserving real character.

The finish is clean and savory, extending notes of fresh fruit, spice, and minerality. This 2024 “Petit Ours” perfectly illustrates Matthieu Barret’s ability to craft an authentic, expressive, and instantly pleasurable Syrah without ever losing the identity of its terroir.