Wine Advisor
Charvin, Chateauneuf du Pape 2019
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
Charvin's gorgeously aromatic 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape—sourced from the sectors of Cabrières (Nord) and Maucoil—features scents of lavender, garrigue and purple raspberries. In the mouth, it's full-bodied and concentrated, with ample, ripe tannins, then seems a bit warm and rough, with a wooly-tannic finish. Give this tank-aged blend of 82% Grenache, 5% each Mourvèdre and Syrah and 4% each Counoise and Vaccarèse a few more years to come together and settle down.
Reviewed by: Stuart Pigott
A ripe and almost opulent Chateauneuf-du-Pape with very ripe plum and blackberry aromas, plus notes of old balsamic vinegar and savory. The serious tannin structure holds it on track and keeps the palate decisively dry. Builds to an impressive crescendo at the ample dry finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
Reviewed by: Nicolas Greinacher
The 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a success. A Grenache-led blend with some Mourvèdre, Syrah, Vaccarèse and Counoise, this 2019 aged for 21 months in concrete tanks. It bursts from the glass with a fragrant perfume of rose petal, blood orange, ripe forest strawberry, raspberry compote, dried herbs and hints of mint. Firm tannins structure the full-bodied palate, kept in check by fresh acidity. Laurent Charvin crafted a splendid wine, which demands a few more years in bottle to allow the tannins to soften.
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.
