Domaine de la Charbonniere Vacqueyras 2023

About this wine

Medium- to full-bodied Vacqueyras from 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah — dark cherry and raspberry first, blackberry and violet behind, wild herb, black pepper, and licorice underneath. The palate is dense with ripe fruit and fine-grained tannins, carried by iron-like minerality and freshness into a persistent finish. A dry still red at 15.5% alcohol in a 750 ml bottle.

Domaine de la Charbonnière is a historic Maret family estate acquired by Eugène Maret in 1912. The fourth generation—Michel Maret and his daughters Caroline and Véronique—runs the domaine, with Véronique leading the winemaking. The estate farms nearly 6 hectares of AOP Vacqueyras and follows traditional Rhône methods with sustainable/organic-minded viticulture.

Worth knowing

Two parcels do the work — Pavane and La Verde, lieux-dits on the Plateau des Garrigues at Sarrians, where red, chalky-calcareous soil and smooth stones go hand in hand with low yields and concentrated fruit. The 2023 came to 1,300 cases, 450 of which made it to the United States.

Blend

• Grenache 60%
• Syrah 40%