"89 Points, Robert Parker: "The dark plum/purple-tinged 2010 Vacqueyras reveals smoky, damp earth, tobacco leaf, underbrush, black currant and black cherry fruit aromas. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah from the Maret family’s tiny Vacqueyras holdings (just over 10 acres), this wine was aged in truncated oak vats and cement. With serious size and structure in the finish, it will be even better in a year or so, and should drink nicely for 5-6.""
Charbonnière is a top Domaine with 12 hectares of prime vineyard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 4.5 hectares in Vacqueyras. This is a top quality domaine making rich, succulent wines of great style. Michel Maret has now handed over the running of the property to his daughters. Véronique is the winemaker and sister Caroline is in charge of the office. There are four different cuvées of Châteauneuf, each from different parcels of land. There is no destemming and vinification is traditional, in stainless steel and concrete vats, and open-top wooden fermenters. Elevage is in a mixture of new barriques, foudres and demi-muids.
Insiders widely regard the Vacqueyras the Maret family produce as one of the best buys in the Southern Rhone; the 2010 Vacqueyras has a lovely nose of mineral, earthy complexity alongside morello cherry and blackcurrant jam; the palate is medium weight and has very fine tannins and lovely pure, intense flavours – this will be superb in the medium term.
