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
A very difficult vintage,
Very heavy rain and cold weather during the harvest.
Very heavy rain and cold weather during 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
Beautiful red colour with orange tints.
A very attractive nose with red fruit and caramel.
The mouth has soft tannins, characteristic of a cool year.
Ready to drink now.
A very attractive nose with red fruit and caramel.
The mouth has soft tannins, characteristic of a cool year.
Ready to drink now.
Reviews
"A solid wine, not as glorious as the top vintage, but still ripe and earthy. A leathery-barnyard component to the black cherry flavors, lingering on the finish."
"Despite being a complicated vintage, this wine has great balance between acidity and a very soft finish. This provides it a great balance between finesse and freshness. A very elegant wine ready to drink.
Stand the bottle upright 48 hours before serving to avoid any deposit.
"
Stand the bottle upright 48 hours before serving to avoid any deposit.
"
"Pale ruby in color, with bricking towards the rim, this wine smells jaw-droppingly of lilacs and other dried flowers, with a hint of smoked meats. In the mouth the wine has a tangy redcurrant and cedar quality with a gorgeous wet stone and forest floor note that lingers through the finish. The tannins are supple and woody, with a hint of bitterness. The year was widely regarded as a poor vintage, as it was quite cold."
