Charvin Côtes du Rhône

This stunning wine is a must-have for Rhône enthusiasts. A bold and expressive Cotes-du-Rhone with excellent wild blackberry fruit plus notes of meat and liquorice. A big and well-structured wine that gets a real kick at the finish from the crunchy freshness (2020 vintage)

• Winery: Domaine Charvin
  
• Varietal: Grenache (predominant), Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan
• Region: Rhone Valley, France
  
• Vintage: 2021
  
• Alcohol: 13.5%
  
• Volume: 750ml
  
• Closure: Cork
• Food match: Roast pork & lamb, game meat; stews and Goulash; grilled vegetables; Asian cuisine; softer & creamy cheeses
  

"Charvin may indeed produce the Richebourg of Chateauneuf du Pape", says Robert Parker. 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.

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.

• 4/5 Stars - John Livingston-Learmonth (2020 vintage)
  
• 92/100 Points - John Caro (2020 vintage)
  
• 96/100 Points - Nick's Wine (2019 vintage)
  
• 4/5 Stars - John Livingston-Learmonth (2019 vintage)
  
• 92/100 Points - Decanter (2016 vintage)