Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape

"This great Chateauneuf combines the richness of the vintage with remarkable precision and vitality. Stacks of ripe damson plum, liquorice and candied orange. Great tannin structure and lots of power on the full-bodied palate, with bitter chocolate and a stony character that builds at the very long, super-focused finish." Stuart Pigott

• Winery: Domaine Charvin
  
• Varietal: 85% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah, 5% Vaccarèse
  
• Region: Chateauneuf, Rhone Valley, France
  
• Vintage: 2020
  
• Alcohol: 15%
  
• Volume: 750ml
  
• Closure: Cork
  
• Other: Best drinking now - 2030
  
• Food match: Roast pork & lamb, game meat; stews & Goulash; grilled vegetables; Asian cuisine; softer & creamy cheeses
  

This Chateauneuf is sublime quality and extreme value. The famously humble Charvin is so traditional that he won't charge nearly the price of his neighbours, despite his vineyards of low-yeilding old vines located in the heart of Chateauneuf. The winemaking too is a traditional treasure, with no oak and instead whole bunch fermentation in concrete tank creating a classic balance of immense fruit purity and layered complexity. Charvin doesn't fuss with top tiers or special cuvees and this estate bottling offers the full heart and soul of his best fruit. Outstanding wine to decant now or cellar as long as you like.

Domaine Charvin is located in southern Rhône in the famous village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Its wines are mostly Grenache-dominant blends, with smaller amounts of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Vaccarese, Bourboulenc and Carignan.

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.

The domaine was established in 1851 in Châteauneuf-du-Pape by Guillaume Charvin. It has spent the majority of its history making bulk wines to be sold to and bottled by local négociants. Apart from a special estate bottling marking the domaine's centenary, the practice of making bulk wines continued up until the 1990s. In 1990 Laurent Charvin, the sixth generation in the family to work at the winery, began the practice of estate bottling for commercial distribution under the domaine's own label.

The winery has since expanded its vineyards more than doubling its property in Châteauneuf-du-Pape to a little more than 8 hectares (20 acres), and a further 12ha (30 acres) of vineyards in the Côtes du Rhône viticultural zone. Domaine Charvin makes a single Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine, and a range of red, white and rosé Côtes du Rhône wines. The wines are fermented and aged in cement tanks, and never see any oak.

• 97/100 Points - Stuart Pigott, James Suckling (2020 vintage)
• 95/100 Points - Matt Walls, Decanter (2020 Vintage)
• 95/100 Points - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2020 Vintage)
• 94/100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck (2020 vintage)
• 93/100 Points - Matt Walls , Decanter (2020 vintage)
• 93/100 Points - Adrian van Velsen, vvWine (2020 vintage)
• 96/100 Points -  Jeb Dunnuck (2019 vintage)
• 95/100 Points - Matt Walls, Decanter (2019 vintage)
• 17.5+/20 Points - Alistair Cooper MW (2019 vintage)
• 94-96/100 Points - Vinous, Josh Raynolds (2018 vintage)
• 95/100 Points - John Caro, Caros Wine (2018 vintage)
• 92-94/Points - Jeb Dunnuck (2018 vintage)
• 93/100 Points - Decanter, Matt Walls (2018 vintage)
• 17/20 Points - JancisRobinson.com, Richard Hemming (2018 vintage)
• 96/100 Points - Wine Enthusiast, Anna Lee C. Lijima (2017 vintage)