Winemaker Notes
The 2021 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape is captivating, offering a bouquet of ripe cherries, plums, and blackberries, accented by subtle garrigue herb and spice notes. On the palate, it is impeccably balanced, with velvety tannins providing structure. Lavender, thyme, and a hint of black pepper enhance the complexity. This Châteauneuf-du-Pape reflects the terroir's purity, boasting a medium-full body and a lingering finish. It's a testament to Charvin's dedication to tradition and his land, making it a true Châteauneuf-du-Pape gem. Suitable for immediate enjoyment or cellaring.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A textural, pure and precise red with aromas of cherries, forest berries, dried roses, wet stones and some mild spices. It's medium-bodied with finely grained tannins and fresh acidity, So much verve and class, with a bright red fruit character and a floral dimension to it. There are spices bringing energy and verve. It's infused yet intense, with a restrained character. Chiseled and refined, with a long, silky finish and a spicy accent.
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Wine Spectator
Mineral notes lead, with a crushed iron accent and a chalky texture providing the base for a bright, high-toned mix of cherry and red currant elements, while tobacco and smoke hints layer in. Nicely unadorned, with character and structure building in intensity, this keeps an energetic, fresh profile and elegance. There's a long life ahead of this. Drink now through 2032. 540 cases imported.
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Jeb Dunnuck
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.
Rating: 91+ -
Vinous
The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a distinctively elegant offering from proprietor and winemaker Laurent Charvin. Delicate rose petals, blueberry, forest strawberry and raspberry aromas unfold, complemented by dried herb nuances. This 2021 red is concentrated and complex, although it does not reach the same levels as in 2020 or 2019. Medium to full-bodied and neatly balanced, it should already drink well from a young age.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Always blended from a combination of stony and sandy sites, Charvin's 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape features classic aromas of ripe cherries and raspberries with herbal overtones. It's medium to full-bodied and supple, with ample length and some dusty tannins on the finish. Barrel Sample: (88-90)
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.