Charleville Vineyards

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Aug 23, 2011

Favorite Wine: 2006 Norton Reserve

Quite an adventure getting to this winery but worth it. Once you finally make it to their driveway you will not quite a few working vineyards along the way up hill on their winding drive. You can make it easily in a sedan but you’d be more comfortable taking a higher clearance SUV. Once to the top though, they have a very nice set up with a wine and beer tasting room. Very nice outdoor patio and seating areas overlooking downward sloping vineyards. We tasted several nice wines which were average to better than average. Two notable offerings were the 2006 Norton Reserve and their Port. Three stars each flirting with four. If we lived in this area, we could see ourselves coming back often to enjoy the relaxing hilltop setting. (Apparently the locals do just this, as this winery was crowded even though it is the most remote by far of the area wineries.) Now, if there was only a way to improve the long winding driveway. But alas, it is part of the adventure.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Feb 18, 2011

Favorite Wine: all of them

Beautiful area, very relaxing - Wine and Micro Beer very well made

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Oct 13, 2010

Norton Wine Review: At Charleville Vineyard, be prepared to drive down a fairly long and narrow gravel road before arriving at this comfortable rustic setting which included a two room B&B. Though most vines are now fifteen years old, the tasting room did not open to the public until 2003. It was fun trying two 2008 Chardonels, same grape, same year, but one fermented in stainless and the other being barrel fermented. My wife preferred the stainless seemingly dryer Chauvin Chardonel and I the oaked version with ever so slightly softer fruity aromas. Offered was their Francois, a dry two year barrel aged 60% Chambourcin and 40% Norton red. A little sour for us, but with a bit of aging in the bottle a new taste may arrive in the near future. We did enjoy tasting Charleville’s Chambourcin since their grapes were grown in close proximity to the subtle Chambourcin of Chaumette Vineyards. My wife preferred the restrained Chaumette Chambourcin which could be enjoyed on its own, I the bolder Charleville Vineyard Chambourcin which could hold up well with a meal. Another nice comparison tasting was their 2006 and 2008 Norton. We purposely started with the younger 2008 Norton which had typical Norton aromas and light cherry tastes, but obviously needed to be softened with a bit of aging. Onto the 2006 Norton which most appreciably had mellowed, but lacked finesse. Glad we found 2005 Charleville Nortons in a St. Louis Liquor Store for yet another comparison down the road.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: May 03, 2010

Favorite Wine: 07 Chambourcin

Very nice rustic little cabin in the woods with a commanding view of several wooded ridges. The Norton needs aging, but the Chambourcin is really quite nice, full, thick with cherry overtones. They also serve microbrewed beer that are very well made.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Nov 12, 2009

Favorite Wine: I think I like them all

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Jun 22, 2009

This winery is beautiful and rustic. The hosts are great. The place is dog friendly. Sitting by the fire in the fall is a must.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Aug 26, 2008

Favorite Wine: chardonel

What a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Listening to bluegrass music, sharing cheese and sausage with the dogs, taking in the breathtaking valley, and drinking a wonderfully chilled bottle of chardonel. Much better than the mega bottlers down the road.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Jun 25, 2007

Favorite Wine: White Dry oak fermented--forgot name

Joal and Jack, Owners of Charleville are gracious hosts. The wine is some of the best in Missouri and the atmosphere is of pastoral serenity--music was great, too.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Apr 26, 2007

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Apr 10, 2007

I have made a visit to this winery only 1 time. However, I will be returning. The atmosphere is breath taking and the owners are very social. The wines were very nice as well.