Presentation
Presentation
Château de Beaucastel has long been considered one of the great wines of France. It is unanimously renowned for its balance, elegance and ageing potential. Beaucastel has an extraordinary terroir at the Northern end of the appellation with heavy exposure to the Mistral. All 13 varieties of the appellation have been organically grown here since the sixties.
The vintage
An exceptional vintage,
A hot summer with cool nights until the end of the harvest.
A hot summer with cool nights until the end of the harvest.
Location
Châteauneuf du Pape, between Orange and Avignon, Château de Beaucastel red is a 70-hectare vineyard.
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.
Beaucastel grows all thirteen grape varieties authorised by the appellation.
Ageing
Each variety is harvested manually and separately. Vinification is completed in truncated oak barrels for the reductive grapes (Mourvèdre and Syrah) and in traditional tiled cement tanks for the oxidative grapes (such as Grenache). After the malolactic fermentations, the Perrin family blends the different varieties and then the wine ages in oak Foudres for a year before being bottled.
Varietals
Grenache : 30%
Mourvèdre : 30%
Vaccarèse, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul, Picardan, Bourboulenc, Roussanne : 15%
Syrah : 10%
Counoise : 10%
Cinsault : 5%
Mourvèdre : 30%
Vaccarèse, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul, Picardan, Bourboulenc, Roussanne : 15%
Syrah : 10%
Counoise : 10%
Cinsault : 5%
Advice
Serving
15°C and if possible decant before serving.
Tasting
A striking colour for a 19 year old wine.
The nose is profound and sweet, with black truffle, under-wood, and earthy notes.
The mouth is fruity, fleshy and round, with soft tannins.
It can be drunk but will improve with time.
The nose is profound and sweet, with black truffle, under-wood, and earthy notes.
The mouth is fruity, fleshy and round, with soft tannins.
It can be drunk but will improve with time.
Recipes
Roasted Duck Breast with clove butter sauce
Reviews
"Surprisingly pale in colour with earthy, leather notes and cherries pushing through on the mid-palate. Silky, ripe tannins."
"It's a generous, concentrated, intensely fruity Châteauneuf that blends mouthfilling flavors with complex cedar, spice and leather accents. Sturdy tannins and solid acidity mark this as a good candidate to cellar. Best after 1996."
"Two great back to back vintages are the 1990 and 1989. The more developed 1990 boasts an incredible perfume of hickory wood, coffee, smoked meat, Asian spices, black cherries, and blackberries. Lush, opulent, and full-bodied, it is a fully mature, profound Beaucastel that will last another 15-20 years. "
"After the 1998, a sudden jump to all the signs of maturity: herbs and leather and undergrowth but still fragrant on the mid palate. Silky and sweet in the mouth with a touch of black truffle and tobacco leaf. Tannins are resolved but still a little foursquare."
"The nose is on notes of damp forest, mushrooms and humus.
The fruit, the tension, the freshness and the spices give this wine unbelievable balance and complexity. This wine can be enjoyed now or can be kept a few more years.
Stand the bottle upright 48 hours before serving to avoid any deposit."
The fruit, the tension, the freshness and the spices give this wine unbelievable balance and complexity. This wine can be enjoyed now or can be kept a few more years.
Stand the bottle upright 48 hours before serving to avoid any deposit."
"Layers of complexity, drinking superbly now." [+]
"Medium ruby in color, this wine smells of bacon fat, cedar, and exotic incense with a hint of dried flowers. In the mouth the wine has fine grained tannins that have a supple tension to them. Still coiled tight, the cedar, cherry and sandalwood flavors are more linear than the '89 but no less compelling. Gorgeous acidity and balance. Great length and poise. This wine has a long way to go yet. The finish is deeply mineral and resonant. Stunning."
"Imported by Vineyard Brands. 13.5 % Alcohol. There was a beautiful nose followed by mature but lively fruit in the mouth. This juicy wine was juicy with depth, wood box notes, and youthful grip. ****(*) Now -2025." [+]
"The depth and volume of fruit being quite extraordinary, the wine of the evening: for me, a perfect 100-pointer."
"Fine structure, marked by notes of liquorice and spices. Aromatic and never-ending finale, this wine is now flourishing. Magnificent, it will be great with a gastronomic meal."
"This offers a super rich, earth, leather, spice and sweet-tobacco nose with a very similar texture to the 2017. It has a rich, dark, nutty core with very intense, long black fruit and seamless tannins with flavors of leather, tobacco and deep and ripe plums and blueberries. Drink now."
