Laurent Charvin
Domaine Gerard Charvin
Domaine Gerard Charvin
"May indeed produce the Richebourg of Chateauneuf du Pape"*
Gerard Charvin and his son, Laurent, represent the quintessence of the small domaine/father and son team. They have only 8 ha. of Chateauneuf du Pape, and half of that they sell off to negociants, keeping only the best lots for the Chateauneuf of Domaine Charvin. What goes into their Chateauneuf is about 82% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre, Syrah, and Vaccarese from their vines averaging about 50 years of age (the oldest being 70 years). Together they combine the experience and patience of Gerard with the wine making brilliance of Laurent, now regarded as one of the top wine-makers in the appellation by Guy Julien, famous owner of the restaurant Beaugraviere in Mondragon and assembler of its unequalled Rhone list.
Words that come to mind in describing the style of Charvin’s wine would include at the top, silky, velvety, and smooth. There are no harsh or dry tannins and they are always impeccably balanced. Descriptors that Robert Parker uses also include seductive, sexy, smoky, blackberry, cherry, hedonistic, flamboyant and blockbuster. These are indeed some of the best examples of the appellation and represent a very unique and extraordinary style that is immediately recognizable, and thus literally an artistic expression.
Gerard Charvin and his son, Laurent, represent the quintessence of the small domaine/father and son team. They have only 8 ha. of Chateauneuf du Pape, and half of that they sell off to negociants, keeping only the best lots for the Chateauneuf of Domaine Charvin. What goes into their Chateauneuf is about 82% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre, Syrah, and Vaccarese from their vines averaging about 50 years of age (the oldest being 70 years). Together they combine the experience and patience of Gerard with the wine making brilliance of Laurent, now regarded as one of the top wine-makers in the appellation by Guy Julien, famous owner of the restaurant Beaugraviere in Mondragon and assembler of its unequalled Rhone list.
Words that come to mind in describing the style of Charvin’s wine would include at the top, silky, velvety, and smooth. There are no harsh or dry tannins and they are always impeccably balanced. Descriptors that Robert Parker uses also include seductive, sexy, smoky, blackberry, cherry, hedonistic, flamboyant and blockbuster. These are indeed some of the best examples of the appellation and represent a very unique and extraordinary style that is immediately recognizable, and thus literally an artistic expression.
(*ROBERT PARKER, THE WINE ADVOCATE).
Robert Parker wrote on erobertparker.com bulletin board (August 2007)
"Charvin...today...is the closest thing you will find to rayas under
the late Jacques Raynaud (1978-1995 vintages)...and at a fraction of the
price...the Cote du Rhone is a winner as well...but I have been writing this
for 10-12 years..."
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