2024 Domaine Dusseau Reserve Barrel Aged Pinot Noir

When it comes to value for money, Domaine Dusseau is hard to beat. The Reserve series (Barrel Aged), in particular, produces wonderfully fine wines at a very pleasant price.

Located in the south of France, Domaine Dusseau has vineyards spread across various areas in the Pays d'Oc, each with its own climate. The majority of the grapes are destined for bulk wines, but a limited portion—and then the best fruit—is intended for in-house bottling, with quality as the guiding principle.

Thanks to the large area of its own vineyards, Domaine Dusseau has the ability to consistently select the best grapes from the best plots for the wines under its own label.

The vineyards of Domaine Dusseau around Limoux are situated in three climatically distinct regions:
- To the west of Limoux, the 'Terroir Océanique' with wines where acidity dominates.
- To the northeast, the 'Terroir Méditerranéen' with full-bodied wines.
- To the south, the 'Terroir Haute Vallée', where the wines clearly have more minerality.

Due to this variety of terroirs, consistent quality can be pursued by adjusting the proportions in each blend to the characteristics of the vintage. In cool years, the percentage of 'Méditerranéen' can be increased, and in warm years, more freshness can be brought into the wine by increasing the proportion of 'Océanique'.

The grapes for the Dusseau Reserve Barrel Aged Pinot Noir are pressed in a pneumatic press after harvesting, and vinification takes place in steel tanks under full temperature control. This Réserve Pinot Noir is aged in French oak, including 6 months in 1/3 new oak barriques. This Reserve Pinot Noir has a beautiful, fresh ruby red color. Rounder and fruitier than its Burgundian counterpart, with notes of blackcurrant, licorice, and cherry on the nose, along with a hint of cedarwood and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, slightly spicy but also supple and soft without excessive tannins. This is a beautiful Pinot Noir with good fruit.