Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet Rouge 2018

Presentation

Presentation
The 30 hectares of Coudoulet are located just east of the vineyard of Beaucastel on the other side of the A7 motorway. For reasons that have now become obvious, Coudoulet is often considered the baby Beaucastel. The Coudoulet soil has many similarities to that of Beaucastel. It is made out of Molasse seabed covered by diluvial alpine deposits. These pebbles called “Galets Roulés” play a big role: They take in the heat during the day and let it if off slowly at night which gives a good start to the vines in the Spring.
The vintage
The 2018 vintage is characterised by exceptional weather conditions. Flowering took place in the best possible conditions, with a historically abundant grape output. A few rainy episodes at the end of the spring complicated things a little with an attack of mildew, but the good weather then settled down until harvest, which took place under idyllic conditions.The wines are beautiful.
Location
30 hectares in Côtes-du-Rhône.
Terroir
Molasse seabed of the Miocene period covered by diluvial alpine deposits (rolled pebbles), identical to the vineyard of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Ageing
Each variety is harvested manually and separately, then sorted in the cellar. The harvest is heated to 80°C (skins) and then cooled down to 20°C. Classic maceration occurs in cement tanks for 12 days. Pressing in pneumatic presses. Blending of the different varietals after malolactic fermentation. Ageing in Oak Foudres for 6 months.
Varietals
Grenache : 40%
Mourvèdre : 30%
Syrah : 20%
Cinsault : 10%

Advice

Serving
16°C in tasting glasses.
Tasting
The 2018 Red Coudoulet has a beautiful ruby-red colour with shiny reflections and shows a powerful nose with notes of red fruit, spices and “garrigue”. With great finesse, the mouth is full bodied and silky with velvety tannins and fruity, chocolate and thyme aromas. A nice length on the finish.

Reviews

89-91/100
"From a vineyard just across the A7 interstate, on the northern edge of Châteauneuf Du Pape and not far from the estate, the 2018 Côtes Du Rhône Coudoulet De Beaucastel offers a pretty, medium to full-bodied, elegant profile that’s a great introduction into the 2018 vintage. Complex notes of garrigue, peppery spice, and dark fruits all emerge from this nuanced, balanced effort that will drink well right out of the gate."
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91-93/100
"Tasted as a sample blended from several foudres, the 2018 Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel features scents of sun-warmed stones and ripe raspberries. Medium to full-bodied, it's plush and open-knit, already giving a lot of pleasure, and finishing zesty and long"
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93/100
"Lovely density and darkness to the colour, density of fruit too on the palate. Very well balanced, with dense, deep, grippy tannins. The Mourvèdre makes itself known this year - intense damson and liquorice on the long finish. A good value pick. 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 10% Vaccarèse/Terret Noir/Muscardin, 3% Cinsault, 7% white varieties. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudre."
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