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.

Charvin produces finely styled Grenache based wines showing great depth and finesse (approximately 80% Grenache for each wine with small amounts of Vacaresse and Mourvedre as well as small amounts of Carignan and Bourboulenc for the Côtes du Rhône). Winemaking is traditional with no de-stemming and all ageing is done in cement tanks. No wood is used for the elevage of either wine. There are no secrets here, simply old vines, very low yields and minimal winemaking intervention. The Côtes du Rhône is regularly rated as one of the very best from this area and perhaps it is not surprising as the vines for this cuvee border directly on to the appellation for Chateauneuf du Pape in the northern sector where they are located.

Quantities for 2018 are some of the smallest yields ever for this region particularly in the northern sector of Chateauneuf du Pape with very heavy spring rainfall and notably little mistral wind. Yields were substantially down in volume affected by mildew from the exceptionally wet and humid weather reducing the yields by 30-55%. After a very hot and dry June and July the first week of August bought rain of about 100+ millimetres before a cool and dry September with dry weather and cool nights resulting in wines with great aromatic lift, freshness and elegance.

“The Charvins have owned their domaine since 1851. Laurent Charvin represents the sixth generation, but he was the first in the family to estate-bottle the wine, which was previously sold off to négociants. Charvin makes only one red Châteauneuf-du- Pape. Thanks to its fermentation, aging in large concrete vats, and the light-hand in winemaking, this is consistently one of the purest and most perfumed expressions of the appellation. Due to the low-yielding and mostly old vines (50 years of age, on average), the wine never lacks depth. Charvin owns just eight hectares in the northwest sector of the appellation.“ Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media, October 2021

2021 Domaine Charvin Côtes du Rhône Le Poutet 750 ml & 1500 ml
’From 2010 81% Grenache (av age 40 yrs in 2012, youngest 2004, 1992, oldest 1920s), 7.5% Syrah (1985), 7.5% Mourvèdre (1985, a recently rented plot), 5% Carignan (1950s), before was 85% Grenache (av age 40 yrs in 2008, youngest 1992, oldest 1920s), 10% Syrah (1985), 5% Carignan (1950s) from near Maucoil, Quartier Champovin, Boislauzon, sandy, clay-limestone, some galet stones soils, light crush, whole bunch 15-20 day fermentation, daily pumping overs, press wine added, concrete vat raised 18 months, fined, unfiltered, up to 50,000 b’
’quiet red robe; the nose leads on a pine needles, cedar air, a spiced undercurrent, and a note of damson jam in the second rank. It has a cool vintage nature. The palate clusters around white pepper, herbs on the attack, has a steady level of gras at its centre, is smoky and thrusting late on, notably vegetal on the finish. The length is established here. I feel the content is making inroads into the dry herbal tones, so it should be left until spring 2026, will be a gainer. 13.5°. 2033-35’ John Livingstone-Learmonth, drinkrhone.com, Feb 2024.

2021 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge - very limited - available MAY 2024
Average age of vines about 60 y.o. in sandy north-facing soil in north-west of appellation. 85% Grenache, 5% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Vaccarese. Vinified 100% whole-bunch, all raised in concrete tanks for 18-21 months, fined, unfiltered.

‘gentle red robe; the nose is emerging on a restrained red stone fruited expression, rosemary and a note of cracked pepper pepping it up. The palate is cool and flowing, the oiliness of texture pleasing, gathers a little knot of damson plum concentration towards the finish. It’s artfully handled to achieve this harmony of approach, the winemaking restrained, successful. The rounded finish takes in dried herbs with a smoky register on the aftertaste. It gives a good picture of its place, vineyards flanked by pine trees. From mid-2025. 2042-44’
John Livingstone-Learmonth, drinkrhone.com, Feb 2024

‘(vat) medium depth red; the nose gives a happy twinning of mulberry and raspberry fruit, with an appealing floral-pot-pourri under tone that brings grace. This is Châteauneuf bearing its true finesse. The palate concords with that, is harmonious and well rounded, carries a neat freshness with garrigue herbs on the second half. The purity of the gently perfumed fruit is very appealing. It has the feel of soils with sand present, just a thought. From 2025, decant. 2046-48 Oct 2022’ 4(+1) stars, John Livingstone-Learmonth, drinkrhone.com, The Cradle Of The Rhône, October 2022.

”Beautiful floral aromatics of raspberries, minty herbs, sappy garrigue, and fresh rose petals all emerge from the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape, a bright, medium-bodied, incredibly elegant Châteauneuf du Pape from Laurent. It picks up more white pepper with time in the glass (no doubt from the stems) and has a fresh, focused, almost crunchy style that will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and will evolve for well over a decade. This is an elegant, fresher Charvin with lots to love. Unfortunately, production is down more than 40%, so there's not much to go around. Tasted twice with consistent notes.” 91+ points, Jeb Dunnuck, October 2023

2020 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge - very limited - 750ml SOLD OUT - 375m + 1500m last bottles
”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.” 97 points, James Suckling, April 2023

‘(vat, bottling Feb 2022) dark red; an elegant curve runs across the nose, mulberry, raspberry jelly, laurel, thyme, dried herbs, the fruit very pure. The palate is sensuous, flows well, is articulate, bears Burgundian refinement, velvet tannins, is very stately. There’s a serene, gossamer, real stylish increase in depth, essence, running into a really good finish where the juice circulates freely, is bursting with life, energy, blood-iron, herbal notes, local ID on the aftertaste. This is pure, feathery, with good inner content, good balance, gives great access to its terroir, is STGT wine. “It does things softly; I am happy because the impression that it accentuates is the living side of the wine in the last few years,” Laurent Charvin. From 2025. 2048-50 Oct 2021’ 5 stars, John Livingstone-Learmonth, drinkrhone.com, October 2021.

”Another beautiful wine from Laurent, his 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a classic blend of 82% Grenache, 5% each of Syrah and Mourvedre, and the rest Vaccarese and Counoise, all from the northern part of the appellation, aged in tank. Perfumed red fruits, rose petals, spice, and sappy, peppery garrigue all flow to a medium to full-bodied, seamless 2020 with silky tannins, wonderful balance, and a great finish. It needs 3-5 years in the cellar to hit the early stages of its drink window, where it should keep nicely for over a decade.” 94 points, Jeb Dunnuck, November 2022