2018 Domaine Charles Audoin Marsannay La Charme Aux Pretres

Domaine Charles Audoin was formed in 1972 by Charles and his oenologist wife Marie-Francoise, starting with three hectares in Marsannay. Their holding has now grown to around 14 hectares that captures some of the best parcels in Marsannay. Their son Cyril joined his father in 2000, and is now in charge of both vineyard and winemaking activities for the Domaine. Cyril is increasingly focused on vineyard health, to deliver wines with pure varietal expression and a sense of place. They are among the most serious wines from the area, and while juicy and approachable young, have the capacity to age gracefully for many years.

La Charme aux Pretres is situated in middle of the Marsannay sector, and soils here are a reddish brown gravel over a bed of limestone. This high limestone content tends to produce an open knit wine with great structure and impressive ageing potential.

Deep dark red core with black tinged edges and a bright purple red hue. Sour to red cherry aromas mix with red currant, forest floor, light stalk, fresh herbs and spicy cedar. Light, savoury and fresh with an understated power, the palate is littered with red cherry and red currant fruits which are underpinned by light earth, dried herbs and spicy cedar. A fine web of tannins beautifully integrated with the fruit. The detailed finish long and elegant.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13%

Other Reviews....
Like the Champs Salomon, the 2018 Marsannay La Charme aux Prêtres is a touch more reserved, unwinding in the glass to reveal aromas of Griotte cherries, rose petals, orange rind and a discreet framing of new oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, racy and incisive, with a fleshy core of fruit, bright acids and chalky grip on the finish. I look forward to revisiting it in bottle.
91-93 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Feb 2020)

Here too there is a touch of menthol sitting atop the herbal tea, floral and cooler essence of various wild red berries. There is sense of restraint to the detailed and overtly saline-inflected flavors that give off a touch of cherry bon bons character on the firm but not particularly austere finale.
90-92 points
Allen Meadows - Burghound