81% Grenache, 7% Mourvèdre, 5% Carignan, 7% Syrah. Organic. This is classic Charvin and offers lots of kirsch and blackberry fruits, garrigue, white pepper and sappy herbs in its medium-bodied, polished, elegant, yet tight and firm personality. Give it a year or two in bottle and it will still be drinking beautifully in 10 years.
Gerard Charvin and his son, Laurent, represent the quintessence of the small domaine/father and son team. They have only 8 Ha of Châteauneuf-duPape, and half of that they sell off to negociants, keeping only the best lots for the Châteauneuf of Domaine Charvin. Until recently, Laurent was almost the only grower to still vinify traditionally, with whole-cluster fermentations. Now others are beginning to copy him. In addition to leaving all the stems, Laurent’s elevage is uniquely in concrete tank, no barrel. What goes into their Châteauneuf is about 82% Grenache and the rest Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Vaccarese from their vines averaging about 50 years of age (the oldest being 70 years). Together they combine the experience and patience of Gerard with the wine making brilliance of Laurent, now regarded as one of the top wine-makers in the appellation by Guy Julien, famous owner of the restaurant Beaugraviere in Mondragon and assembler of its unequalled Rhône list.
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