2021 Domaine Charvin Chateauneuf du Pape

DEC93 A savoury nose with woodland scents, bark, moss and woody herbs. With good weight on the palate, it’s quite muscular with savoury tannins and finishes dry. Needs time, but will be a food-friendly, savoury and eventually quite complex wine when ready. Organically grown in the northwest of the appellation in lieu-dit Cabrières, on galets roulés and sand. It’s whole-bunch fermented and then aged for 21 months in concrete using indigenous yeasts, then bottled unfiltered.

JD91+ Beautiful floral aromatics of raspberries, minty herbs, sappy garrigue, and fresh rose petals all emerge from the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape, a bright, medium-bodied, incredibly elegant Châteauneuf du Pape from Laurent. It picks up more white pepper with time in the glass (no doubt from the stems) and has a fresh, focused, almost crunchy style that will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and will evolve for well over a decade. This is an elegant, fresher Charvin with lots to love. Unfortunately, production is down more than 40%, so there’s not much to go around. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

Estate Notes: The 2021 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape is captivating, offering a bouquet of ripe cherries, plums, and blackberries, accented by subtle garrigue herb and spice notes. On the palate, it is impeccably balanced, with velvety tannins providing structure. Lavender, thyme, and a hint of black pepper enhance the complexity. This Châteauneuf-du-Pape reflects the terroir’s purity, boasting a medium-full body and a lingering finish. It’s a testament to Charvin’s dedication to tradition and his land, making it a true Châteauneuf-du-Pape gem. Suitable for immediate enjoyment or cellaring.