DOMAINE CHARVIN CHÂTEAUNEUF-du-PAPE 2023

This Chateauneuf is sublime quality and extreme value. The famously humble Charvin is so traditional that he won't charge nearly the price of his neighbours, despite his vineyards of low-yielding old vines located in the heart of Chateauneuf. The winemaking too is a traditional treasure, with no oak and instead whole bunch fermentation in concrete tank creating a classic balance of immense fruit purity and layered complexity. Charvin doesn't fuss with top tiers or special cuvees, so this estate bottling offers the full heart and soul of his best fruit. Outstanding wine.

98/100 Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com (2023 Vintage)
"Plenty of class, a subtle texture, balance and precision. It shows aromas of raspberries, red cherries, roasted meat, warm spices and some leather. Medium- to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. The texture is so refined, restrained and savoury, with a long, precise, chiseled finish. Almost crunchy, with an attractive note of orange peel. A complete red wine that’s grenache with syrah, mourvedre, counoise and vaccarese. Drink or hold."

95+/100 Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate (2023 Vintage)
"Another impressive success from Laurent Charvin, emphasizing precision and vibrancy over sheer opulence. Charvin’s 2023 Chateauneuf du Pape shows a less flamboyant profile than last year, opening with aromas of menthol, spices, cassis and mulberries. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and layered, it reveals a lively, tensile core of fruit framed by velvety tannins, concluding with a finish marked by real freshness. Matured for 21 months, this is a blend of 82% Grenache Noir, 5% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, 4% Vaccarèse and the balance Counoise. He has long championed whole-cluster fermentation, convinced of its role in amplifying salinity and aromatic lift. All wines ferment and mature in concrete vats, without recourse to oak, a choice that privileges purity of fruit and structural finesse over overt texture or extract. Harvest decisions reflect a search for balance: fruit is picked late enough to achieve full phenolic maturity yet early enough to safeguard freshness. “In the south, freshness is the key,” he insists, and his disciplined approach bears out that conviction year after year. The resulting wines articulate a clear stylistic signature: fine, powdery tannins, lifted perfumes and a sense of weightless concentration. His Châteauneuf-du-Pape stands out for its restraint, with alcohol levels and fine tannins woven into the wine’s frame. Among the appellation’s traditionalists, few pursue their vision with such consistency. The 2023s remain faithful to Charvin’s house style. Time in bottle will only emphasize their finesse and depth."

94/100 Jeb Dunnuck (2023 Vintage)
"Fermented with lots of stems and aged entirely in concrete tanks, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape brings textbook aromatics of ripe red and black fruits, sappy garrigue, leather, and damp flowers, as well as black pepper. It has a deep ruby/plum hue and offers medium body, a pure, focused, elegant mouthfeel, ripe yet certainly building tannins, and a great finish. This is a textbook Châteauneuf with complexity, nuances, richness, and elegance. Drink bottles over the coming 20 years or so."