Domaine de la Charbonniere Vacqueyras Cuvee Speciale 2016
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
James
Suckling
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The yet-to-bottled 2016 Vacqueyras Cuvee Speciale features bold purple raspberry fruit and hints of chocolaty richness, all balanced by crisp acids and a bright, zesty finish. It's full-bodied, with plenty of ripe tannins, so give it until 2020 or so to open up.
Range: 92-94 -
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Vacqueyras Cuvée Spéciale is a killer Vacqueyras that has tons of violets, spice, and minerality as well as more garrigue and sweet Grenache fruit with time in the glass. Deep, medium to full-bodied, gorgeously textured, and balanced, it needs short-term cellaring but will keep for a decade.
Range: 92-94 -
James Suckling
Slightly creamy nuances. Light toffee and spice across ripe, brambly plums and dark berries. The palate has redder-fruit flavors. Sheer, measured and nicely balanced with plenty of flavor. Drink or hold.
Other Vintages
2019-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Spectator
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
It was in 1912 that Eugene Maret bought Domaine de la Charbonniere as a gift for his wife who was a native of Chateauneuf and the daughter of a winemaker. Their son Fernand Maret inherited a part of the Domaine and enlarged it upon the birth of his son Michel.
Today Michel Maret had over 16 hectares of vineyards located in the high plateaux of Les Brusquieres and La Crau both covered with the famous cailloux roulets and at Mourre des Perdix, sandy soil dotted with larger stones.
The passion and know-how of the winemaker, handpicking of the fruit, and careful sorting at the winery enable Michel Maret to optimize all the promise of a great terrior.
The vinification at the Domaine follows the classic style: no destemming, and three weeks fermentation in stainless steel vats, after which the wine is aged in large oak fourdes for 12-18 months.
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.
This charming appellation within the Côtes du Rhône Villages was second only to Gigondas to earn its own village appellation status. Its wines may be red, rosé or white—though hardly any is white. Its high winemaking standards follow many of the same rules as Chateauneuf-du-Pape. But for Vacqueyras red wines, half of the grapes have to be Grenache and the remainder is usually a combination of Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault.
While they can be robust and rustic in style, typically a great Vacqueyras red combines delicate aromas with intense fruit and a bright, crisp texture. They certainly don’t lack any character and show an abundance of black cherry, wild berry, plum, fig, baking spice, and a touch of game or smoke.