Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 1996

Presentation

Presentation
Château de Beaucastel has long been considered as one of the greatest wines in France. It is notoriously known for its elegance, balance and ageing potential. Beaucastel has an exceptional Terroir at the Northern limit of the Appellation of Châteauneuf du Pape, exposed to the Mistral wind. All thirteen varieties of the Appellation have been grown organically since the sixties.
The vintage
Good Vintage
A cold year and harvest
Location
Châteauneuf du Pape, between Orange and Avignon, Château de Beaucastel red is a 70-hectare vineyard.


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Terroir
Château de Beaucastel is 110 hectares, with one single plot at the north of the appellation. The terroir is archetypal of the best terroirs in Châteauneuf: rolled pebbles on the surface, sand, clay and limestone deeper down. The vines are old and have been organically grown for 50 years, which has allowed the roots to grow exceptionally deep.
Beaucastel grows all thirteen grape varieties authorised by the appellation.
Ageing
Each variety is harvested separately and manually. Vinification takes place in oak fermenters for the reductive varieties (Mourvèdre, Syrah) and in traditional enamelled concrete tanks for the Oxydative grapes (all the others). Once the malolactic fermentation is finished, the Perrin family blends the different varieties. The blend is then aged in oak Foudres for a year before being bottled.
Varietals
Grenache : 30%
Mourvèdre : 30%
Vaccarèse, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul, Picardan, Bourboulenc, Roussanne : 15%
Counoise : 10%
Syrah : 10%
Cinsault : 5%

Advice

Serving
Around 15°C. If possible, decant the wine.
Tasting
Deep ruby colour aux bright red overtones
Intense nose of the macerated red fruits spiced with leather
The mouth is supple and round, with a fresh but elegant finish, with a fruit and Garrigue aftertaste

Reviews

"Fresh and fruity, with smooth tannins, this delivers nice cassis, blackberry and cherry notes. Good acidity leads to a mouthpuckering, racy finish."
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"This vintage is ready to drink and should be opened now and decanted a few hours before serving.
Stand the bottle upright 48 hours before serving to avoid any deposit.
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"Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château de Beaucastel magnum 1996 est un vin d’un rare confort. Il est tellement civilisé que c’est son velours qui emporte les suffrages. Très bien fait, au fruit joyeux, il est encore dans sa belle jeunesse." [+]
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