Wine Advisor
Charvin, Chateauneuf du Pape 2018
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Saturated garnet. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red berries, exotic spices and candied flowers, and a vibrant mineral note emerges as the wine opens up. Alluringly sweet and lively on the palate, offering juicy Chambord, cherry and lavender pastille flavors complemented by hints of star anise and white pepper. Smooth and seamless in texture, showing impressive finishing energy, polished tannins and sharp definition.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Plenty of blood-orange character to this juicy and textural Chateauneuf-du-Pape. On the nose it exhibits notes of sweet cherries, orange peel, sweet spices and a touch of leather, too. It's full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. So much vitality and succulence here. Attractive fruit meets a floral and savory edge. Refined texture with generosity yet restraint to the long, flavorful finish. This will age well. Drink or hold.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Saturated garnet. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red berries, exotic spices and candied flowers, and a vibrant mineral note emerges as the wine opens up. Alluringly sweet and lively on the palate, offering juicy Chambord, cherry and lavender pastille flavors complemented by hints of star anise and white pepper. Smooth and seamless in texture, showing impressive finishing energy, polished tannins and sharp definition.
About the Producer
Domaine Charvin was founded in 1851, but it wasn't until a century later, in 1951, that the first bottle of wine was bottled at Charvin, solely for private family use. It was only in 1990 that Laurent Charvin, the 6th generation heir of the estate, began selling wine under the Charvin label, with an annual production of just 8,000 bottles. The family owns approximately 8 hectares of vineyards in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape region and an additional 16 hectares in other areas of the Rhone Valley. The average age of the grapevines is around 45 years. During the harvest, the grapes are sorted, and the wine is made using 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and the remainder being a blend of Mourvedre and Vaccarese. The grapes are lightly crushed and fermented in concrete vats without destemming. This very traditional winemaking process lasts for about three weeks for fermentation and maceration, followed by 18 months of maturation entirely in concrete vats. The wines produced by the estate are unfiltered, a bold move that sets them apart from other wineries. This approach results in pure and concentrated wines with flavors of black raspberry fruit and a sweet, deep, and layered mouthfeel. It is worth noting that Domaine Charvin is located north of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, near Orange. The soils here are composed of clay and limestone, and their full potential has yet to be fully realized. The vineyards benefit from a relatively cool climate in the northern part of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Laurent Charvin follows the most traditional and primitive winemaking methods, without destemming, filtering, or the use of oak barrels. There are no secrets or embellishments, relying solely on old vines, low yields, and minimal human intervention to create wines that express the purest terroir of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
