2019 Chateauneuf du Pape

Charvin's gorgeously aromatic 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape—sourced from the sectors of Cabrières (Nord) and Maucoil—features scents of lavender, garrigue and purple raspberries. In the mouth, it's full-bodied and concentrated, with ample, ripe tannins, then seems a bit warm and rough, with a wooly-tannic finish. Give this tank-aged blend of 82% Grenache, 5% each Mourvèdre and Syrah and 4% each Counoise and Vaccarèse a few more years to come together and settle down.

The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape from Laurent is the usual blend of 82% Grenache and the rest nearly equal parts Syrah, Mourvèdre, Vaccarèse, and Counoise that was brought up all in concrete tank. It shows the sunny, spicy, Provençal style of the vintage beautifully while still having incredible freshness in its red and black fruits as well as garrigue, ground pepper, spring flowers, and incense aromas and flavors. Gorgeous on the palate as well, this medium to full-bodied Châteauneuf du Pape is balanced and has terrific tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. Rhône lovers need to have this beauty in their cellar, and it's going to offer pleasure for a solid two decades. Located in the cooler, northern portion of the appellation, Laurent Charvin pulls from vines in the Cabrières, Maucoil, and l’Arnesque lieux-dits, which are more limestone soils. The wines are largely not destemmed and see no wood whatsoever, being fermented and aged all in large concrete tanks. As always, these latest releases show the perfumed, elegant side of the appellation. While I wasn’t able to taste it for this report, Laurent also fashions a brilliant Côtes du Rhône that is well worth seeking out and cellaring.

80% Grenache, 7% Vaccarèse, 5% Mourvèdre, 4% Syrah, 4% Counoise. Tank sample. Very vibrant fruits on the nose – underneath follows a slight earthy ashy note (whole bunch?), floral and pepper touches. Juicy smoky fruit with lots of grip – very refined and finely tuned tannins. Already gives lots of pleasure with its pure and vibrant notes, but all the time with a brooding smoke. Well-judged acidity too leads to a long savoury-infused earthy finish. (AC)