Domaine de la Charbonniére Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 2015

Characteristic soils of Châteauneuf-du-Pape (yellow and red sand, red clay and limestone clay, rolled pebbles) with a high proportion of sands. The average age of the vines +40 years. Tasting notes: Impeccable richness and ripeness, packed with dark berries, delivered in a seamless, dynamic palate. Long and Delicious Chateauneufs Reviews:

95PTS, James Suckling

Even and supple red to dark cherry and red plum fruits with a palate presence that has powerful ripe tannins that are presented in a smooth, balanced style. Extremely concentrated. This is terrific. Best from 2020.

RP94, Robert Parker

Richer and more deeply textured than the other cuvées from Charbonnière, 90% of the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes comes from 70- to 100-year-old Grenache vines in La Crau, supplemented by 10% Mourvèdre off 45-year-old vines. It has the same estate signature of red cherries and stone fruit, with just hints of spice on the long, velvety finish.

The Maret family at Domaine de la Charbonnière is now into their fourth generation, as I met sisters Véronique and Caroline at the estate for a Sunday morning of tasting with their enology consultant, the ubiquitous Philippe Cambie. The estate now consists of 30 hectares in total, with 19.5 of them in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and six in Vacqueyras. Like many vignerons in the Southern Rhône, they are using whole clusters more and more, getting more complexity and freshness into the wines.