Domaine Charvin, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2016

Stupidly good. Outstanding producer, top vintage = delicious. Definitely one for the cellar, but I’d be tempted to crack it early.

Wine: DOMAINE CHARVIN Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Producer: Domaine Charvin

Region/Country: Southern Rhone, France

Grape/s: Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre

Production Method: Organic farming and traditional, minimal intervention winemaking.

Style: Astounding purity and depth. This wine emanates old vine concentration with deep raspberry and red plums, spicy complexity and a sappy, bracken-like edge. Powerful and elegant tannins.

Pairing Suggestion: Mediterranean cuisine, grilled meats, roasted vegetables

Variety: Grenache

Profile: Grenache is an extremely widely planted variety, very well suited to warmer climates, where it is commonly blended with the likes of Mourvedre, Cinsault, Syrah and Carignan. It grows as a bush vine, making it suited to drought conditions and helping to protect the fruit from sun and wind damage. Wines display vivid red colour and vibrant red fruit character alongside distinctive Mediterranean herb flavourings. With added ripeness Grenache can take on a more medicinal tinge and greatly concentrated, dried fruit flavours. There are many old vine plantings throughout the Southern Rhone and Australia, and the wines produced from these offer extremely good value for money.

Classic Regions: Southern Rhone (France), Rioja, Priorat (Spain), McLaren Vale (Australia), Swartland (South Africa)

Domaine Charvin

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. Certified organic.