This very well-made Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a mouth-filling, robust wine. The Domaine was purchased by Eugène Maret in 1912, purportedly to please his wife, who was a native of the area, as well as being a winemaker’s daughter. Fernand Maret, their son, inherited a part of the estate, and enlarged it after the birth of the next generation – his son, Michel.

Today, Michel Maret and his two daughters (Caroline and Véronique) have more than 19 hectares of land, spread out in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. Their winery is located roughly 1 kilometer NE of the village center of the appellation.

The family has developed a stellar reputation among wine critics. Strong recent reviews from Robert Parker (“One of my favorite estates in the southern Rhône…”), James Molesworth (“Domaine de la Charbonniere may not be one of the biggest labels in Châteauneuf, but don’t let that stop you”,) Jeb Dunnuck (A fantastic estate” …), with more praise coming from Decanter magazine, Hugh Johnson, Jancis Robkinson and others.

APPEARANCE: Deep purple, opaque, with the “legs” lingering on the glass for almost a minute.

AROMATICS: Earthy, but not overly oaked. Red fruits – Cherry, Rhubarb, Red Plum.

TASTE PROFILE: Full-bodied, obvious youthful tannins, balance between acid, tannins, and fruit. Lingering finish.

FOOD PAIRINGS: Grilled beef, BBQed Brisket, Venison Roast, and BBQed Pork Ribs; Cheeses such as Cheddar, Gouda, Smoked Gouda, Muenster, or Colby.

By Don Clemens