Domaine de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2015

Professional Ratings

• 95 Wine Spectator
  A lovely licorice snap note leads off, followed quickly by crushed raspberry, blackberry and boysenberry fruit flavors. Rich yet restrained, with light shiso leaf, iron and incense details weaving throughout. The silky finish lets the fruit linger with a sustained hum. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2035.
• 95 James Suckling
  Even and supple red to dark cherry and red plum fruits with a palate presence that has powerful ripe tannins that are presented in a smooth, balanced style. Extremely concentrated. This is terrific. Best from 2020.
• 94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  Showing the most depth and richness of the three single vineyards, the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes comes mostly from the La Crau lieu dit (there’s a small amount from the Cristia vineyard) and is full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and textured, with classic Vieilles Vignes masculine notes of dark fruits, ground herbs, licorice and crushed rock. I normally find this cuvée to have a touch of austerity and firmness in its youth, but this beauty has sweet, polished tannin and terrific purity of fruit. I suspect it will be approachable in its youth as well, but capable of lasting for two decades.
  Rating:92-94
• 92 Jeb Dunnuck
  Lastly, and from the oldest vines of the estate and the La Crau plateau, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is the most structured and tannin in the line (which is common), yet is balanced, elegant and impeccably made. Black cherries, dried soils, dried herbs and savory spice characteristics give way to a medium to full-bodied, straight and focused Grenache that needs 3-4 years of bottle age, and will evolve gracefully for 10-15 years.