SOLD OUT! I am so glad that Laurent Charvin's Cotes du Rhone 'Le Poutet' is back at Table Wine. This "Junior Chateauneuf du Pape" is a product of organic farming and whole-cluster fermentation, and the 2019 is a joy to drink.
Boasting incredible purity along with supple, fine-grained tannin, Laurent's Le Poutet (the name of the vineyard) rivals and out-classes many Chateauneufs that cost 2 to 3 times the price. We scored 7 of the 10 cases that made it to North Carolina this year. My advice: BUY SOME!
2019 Domaine Charvin Cotes du Rhone 'Le Poutet'
94 points Josh Spurling
SOLD OUT
Robert Parker, more than any other wine writer/critic, helped establish Domaine Charvin's reputation in the US market. “I always find Charvin’s wines closest to those of Chateau Rayas, although the Charvin wines are slightly more concentrated.” I agree 100% with that statement, as these are wines with ethereal, complex, and savory aromas and flavors. Parker went on to say “Charvin may indeed produce the Richebourg of Chateauneuf du Pape.” Again, I agree with Mr. Parker, as Charvin's reds always remind me of weightier and more sensual Red Burgundies. We're off to a good start, as the original "wine influencer" compared Charvin's wines to two wines that cost $500 to $1,000+!
It's certainly Charvin's Chateauneuf du Pape that gets all the press, and deservedly so, but their Le Poutet Cotes du Rhone is the estate's sleeper wine. It comes from vineyards within a stone's throw Chateauneuf du Pape, the vines average 40 years of age, and Laurent makes it just like he makes his much pricier CNDP. The result is a stunning red wine with a ton of personality.
In case you hadn't heard, Vintage 2019 is another in a string of hot and relatively dry years in the Southern Rhone. That's good, especially for Grenache-heavy reds, as the grape can handle the heat. Jeb Dunnuck summed up the vintage well, saying it produced "inkier colored, concentrated, full-bodied wines that stay surprisingly focused and lively on the palate." Thus, if you like full-bodied yet plush and seamless reds, this vintage and this wine are going to be right up your alley.
The 2019 Charvin Le Poutet is roughly 80% Grenache, with the balance in Syrah, Mourvedre, and Carignan, all from certified organic vineyards. Laurent ferments in cement tanks to preserve freshness and purity, and the finished wine possesses gorgeous aromas of flowers, red fruits, and spicy garrigue. The palate is equally satisfying, with deep notes of ripe cherry, black cherry, strawberry, pepper, violet, and Provencal herbs.
This is knockout stuff from one of the top producers in the region. It's a wine I wish I could stock all year, but Charvin owns only 10 precious hectares. Thus, small amounts are made and very little makes it to the United States.
To order, stop by or click here to access in our online store.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville