2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Domaine de la Charbonnière
Critics reviews
A fantastic estate, Domaine de la Charbonniere is run by the Maret family, with the two daughters, Caroline and Veronique, taking more and more responsibility. The wines are made by Veronique and the estate produces five, sometimes six (including the white), Chateauneuf-du-Papes, a solid Vacqueyras and a Cotes du Rhone. For the most part, the wines are traditional in style and age gracefully.
Jeb Dunnuck - Wine Advocate #209, Oct 2013
About this WINE
Southern Rhône Blend
The vast majority of wines from the Southern Rhône are blends. There are 5 main black varieties, although others are used and the most famous wine of the region, Châteauneuf du Pape, can be made from as many as 13 different varieties. Grenache is the most important grape in the southern Rhône - it contributes alcohol, warmth and gentle juicy fruit and is an ideal base wine in the blend. Plantings of Syrah in the southern Rhône have risen dramatically in the last decade and it is an increasingly important component in blends. It rarely attains the heights that it does in the North but adds colour, backbone, tannins and soft ripe fruit to the blend.
The much-maligned Carignan has been on the retreat recently but is still included in many blends - the best old vines can add colour, body and spicy fruits. Cinsault is also backtracking but, if yields are restricted, can produce moderately well-coloured wines adding pleasant-light fruit to red and rosé blends. Finally, Mourvèdre, a grape from Bandol on the Mediterranean coast, has recently become an increasingly significant component of Southern Rhône blends - it often struggles to ripen fully but can add acidity, ripe spicy berry fruits and hints of tobacco to blends.
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Description
Our 2012 Rhône Vintage Recommendation: Favourite Southern Rhône White
Soft and fleshy, ripe white-fruit notes on the nose, crisp and mouth-filling on the palate, good acidity, length and concentration. Drink 2014-2019.
Chris Pollington, Private Account Manager
Grenache Blanc takes the lead here with 20% each of Clairette and Roussanne completing the blend. Classic aromatics of hazelnut, pear and toasted almonds do not undermine the freshness and energy of the mid-palate. In other words, a perfect white Châteauneuf.
Simon Field MW, Rhône Wine Buyer
Last year 2013 – was an auspicious year for the likeable Maret family, as they celebrated their centenary. In 2013 Monsieur Maret went into formal retirement although he was far from absent during my tastings! Meanwhile his daughters Véronique and Caroline have been especially successful with their first full vinification: in 2012 they had fewer of the Grenache ‘coulure’ issues which have been evident in both 2011 and, to a lesser extent, in 2013.
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