Domaine de la charbonnière châteauneuf-du-pape cuvée vieilles vignes - organic
Domaine de la Charbonnière has been the singular passion of the Maret family since their purchase of this iconic property in 1912. The young and charismatic Veronique Maret is responsible for the recent meteoric rise of Charbonnière – Veronique is handling all winemaking and somehow also finding the time to run the Domaine’s sales activities. One of the most important changes Veronique made since taking over in 2012 was the move to organic viticulture.
Domaine de la Charbonnière’s holdings spread over 68 acres in some of the region’s most sought after lieu dits – 49 of these in Châteauneuf du Pape, 15 in Vacqueyras, 4 in Côtes du Rhône. Winemaking is traditional with a profound respect for grapes and terroir. Reds are fermented in conical wood vats, and aged in a mix of demi-muids and barrels. While the majority of our Charbonniere references are red, Insiders have long sought out the property’s white wine offerings, which we make available to you with wide grins on our faces. These are all tactile wines that combine elegance and serious depth at once.
The property sits on the La Crau plateau, the high-rent district of the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation, and it’s the very old vine Grenache grown there - a good portion of which is fermented as whole clusters - that creates the plush, silky mouthfeel and intoxicating aromatics of this 2019. But Charbonniere has long been known for its astute use of Mourvedre in its blends, and the 10% addition of that grape adds a dark, peppery aspect to the wine, as well as depth and personality.
The wines of Domaine Charbonnière are among the best values to be found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Old vines offer restricted yields and vigor while concentrating energy on the grapes. This is evident here as the wine showcases intense red and black fruits, underbrush, roasted aromas and spice. The mouth offers a great density with a very long finish.