Perched on the River Dordogne and just a short hike away from the lauded village of Pomerol, Fronsac is home to charming back roads that wind across the countryside, a rich history including one of Charlemagne’s ancient fortresses, as well as an appellation of Bordeaux that showcases incredible claret from artisanal forward-thinking producers like today’s Paul Barre. Although difficult to find in the US, the wines of Fronsac can deliver quality on par with its famous right bank neighbors at a significantly lower price point. Paul Barre farms his celebrated, boutique estate in Fronsac with organic and biodynamic principles. Something of a forerunner in this movement, he has practiced organic farming since the 1970s and has farmed with entirely biodynamic viticulture since 1990. The result is a wine that is virtually teeming with life, purity of fruit and this unique terroir’s powerful energy.

As the third generation of a family wine brokers, Barre knew the world of wine but was called to the life of a vigneron instead of a steward early on. Derived from sandy clay soils, Monsieur Barre’s meticulously kept vines are an average of thirty years old. He carefully handcrafts this pristine and energetic blend of 66% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc and 8% Malbec in a picturesque winery that dates back to the fourteenth century. The result is a classic rendition of old world, right bank Bordeaux at its most stunning.