Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021

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.'