Dark red. Explosively aromatic, assertive nose combines red and dark berries, exotic spices and a strong lavender note. Lush, creamy and sweet, but with good focus to the bright raspberry, blackberry and licorice flavors. Silky, focused and pure on the long, juicy finish. This very sexy wine will drink well young but is balanced to improve with cellaring.

Charvin made a fine 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape which is a blend of 82% Grenache, 8% Syrah, and the rest equal parts Mourvedre and Vaccarese. The wine is classic Chateauneuf, a naked expression of its site and varietals with beautifully pure black cherry fruit notes intermixed with licorice, some roasted herbs, and a hint of spice and roasted meats. With its wonderful intensity, beautiful purity, and loads of finesse and flavor, it’s a beauty that is drinking well and should continue to evolve for at least 10-12 years.

Sweet, rich, intensely ripe fruit. Very rich and slightly fizzy, almost as though some fruit has been fermented using carbonic maceration! Certainly lively but lacks a certain mid palate ballast. Tannins a bit ungainly and unintegrated. (JR)