Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021

Product Description: This an elegant and complex wine with profound notes and flavours of red and black fruits, garrigue, ground pepper, and spring flowers. Beautiful on the palate, this is a medium to full-bodied Châteauneuf-du-Pape with outstanding tannins and is balanced with a wonderful finish. For Rhône enthusiasts. Maker: Laurent Charvin runs this small family estate located in the north of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The domaine has vineyard holdings of just 8 hectares in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and 13 hectares in Cotes du Rhone. The average age of the vineyards is over 50 years old with the oldest being nearly 80 years of age. Laurent Charvin describes his vineyard site as being cool for Chateauneuf as their vines are mostly planted on sandy north facing slopes. Certified organic. Charvin produces finely styled Grenache based wines showing great depth and finesse (approximately 80% Grenache for each wine with small amounts of Vacaresse and Mourvedre as well as small amounts of Carignan and Bourboulenc for the Côtes du Rhône). Winemaking is traditional with no de-stemming and all ageing is done in cement tanks. No wood is used for the elevage of either wine. There are no secrets here, simply old vines, very low yields and minimal winemaking intervention. The Côtes du Rhône is regularly rated as one of the very best from this area and perhaps it is not surprising as the vines for this cuvee border directly on to the appellation for Chateauneuf du Pape in the northern sector where they are located. Josh Raynolds of Vinous Media describes, ‘The Charvins have owned their domaine since 1851. Laurent Charvin represents the sixth generation, but he was the first in the family to estate-bottle the wine, which was previously sold off to négociants. Charvin makes only one red Châteauneuf-du- Pape. Thanks to its fermentation, aging in large concrete vats, and the light-hand in winemaking, this is consistently one of the purest and most perfumed expressions of the appellation. Due to the low-yielding and mostly old vines (50 years of age, on average), the wine never lacks depth. Charvin owns just eight hectares in the northwest sector of the appellation.’ Vineyard: Established in 1851 and the domain is lead by Laurent Charvin since 1990. Domaine Charvin has access to the prestigious AOCs of Chateauneuf du Pape and Cotes du Rhone designations and are certified organic. Laurent Charvin employs 100% whole bunch vinification in cement tanks, followed by 18 months of aging sans fining or filtration. Average age of vines about 60 y.o. in sandy north-facing soil in north-west of appellation. 85% Grenache, 5% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Vaccarese. Tasting Note: Nose – Forest Berries, Dried Roses, Gentle Spice Medium depth red; the nose gives a happy twinning of mulberry and raspberry fruit, with an appealing floral-pot-pourri under tone that brings grace. Palate – Flowing, Unctuous, Damson Plum The palate is cool and flowing, the oiliness of texture pleasing, gathers a little knot of damson plum concentration towards the finish. Finish – Garrigue Herbs, Fresh, Spicy Accent Chiselled and refined, with a long, silky finish and a spicy accent A textural, pure and precise red with aromas of cherries, forest berries, dried roses, wet stones and some mild spices. It’s medium-bodied with finely grained tannins and fresh acidity, So much verve and class, with a bright red fruit character and a floral dimension to it. There are spices bringing energy and verve. It’s infused yet intense, with a restrained character. Chiselled and refined, with a long, silky finish and a spicy accent. Unfiltered. Try after 2027. – James Suckling, 97 Points. Gentle red robe; the nose is emerging on a restrained red stone fruited expression, rosemary and a note of cracked pepper pepping it up. The palate is cool and flowing, the oiliness of texture pleasing, gathers a little knot of damson plum concentration towards the finish. It’s artfully handled to achieve this harmony of approach, the winemaking restrained, successful. The rounded finish takes in dried herbs with a smoky register on the aftertaste. It gives a good picture of its place, vineyards flanked by pine trees. From mid-2025. 2042-44 – John Livingstone-Learmonth, DrinkRhone.com Medium depth red; the nose gives a happy twinning of mulberry and raspberry fruit, with an appealing floral-pot-pourri under tone that brings grace. This is Châteauneuf bearing its true finesse. The palate concords with that, is harmonious and well rounded, carries a neat freshness with garrigue herbs on the second half. The purity of the gently perfumed fruit is very appealing. It has the feel of soils with sand present, just a