Domaine Charvin Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge 2021

Organic

97 points James Suckling
This great Chateauneuf combines the richness of the vintage with remarkable precision and vitality. Stacks of ripe damson plum, licorice 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. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

82% Grenache, 5% Mourvdre, 5% Syrah, 4% Vaccarse, 4% Counoise. Mostly old-vine with the average vine-age being 50 years. Laurent Charvin has only 10 ha of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. 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 the stems, Laurent's élevage is uniquely in concrete tank, no barrel. Laurent is regarded as one of the top wine-makers in the appellation by Guy Julien, famous owner of the restaurant Beaugraviere in Mondragon, as well as other top sommeliers and wine writers in France, with a two-star rating by Revue du Vin de France.