‘Magnificent’ 96 Pt (D) 2021 Château de Beaucastel CDP!

BENCHMARK PRODUCER’S BALANCED AND ELEGANT CDP

"Château de Beaucastel is one of the world’s greatest wineries, with a tremendous history, yet they don't rest on their laurels and are one of the more progressive and forward-thinking estates out there. Set in a magical place, surrounded by olive trees and truffle oaks, centuries of old vines support the 13 varieties that make up their famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape. We have just received the 'magnificent' 96 point 2021 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which we have in half bottles and a few magnums in addition to regular 750ml bottles.

Château de Beaucastel reports that the 2021 vintage is 'very promising with lots of freshness and great balance.' Nicolas Greinacher of Vinous writes, ‘Full-bodied and layered, ever-so-velvety tannins wrap this elegant-to-the-core polished red, before concluding with a bright finish.’ He notes that ‘Everything you could possibly look for in a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape—aromatic complexity, elegance, richness, balance, intensity, persistence—you will discover in Château de Beaucastel’s wines.’ The blend is predominantly Grenache and Mourvèdre, with several other varieties in smaller percentages, including CdP-approved white grapes including Roussanne, Picpoul, and Bourboulenc. Stock up now on this Southern Rhône icon!" – Jim Knight, The Wine House

96 Points: "A deep, quite herbal expression, with liquorice and crushed blueberries to the cassis fruit. Full-bodied, powerfully fruited, dense and deep. Really mouthcoating, intense fruit. The tannins are ripe, fine and plentiful, all saturated in blackberry juice on a long finish. Certainly one of the more successful Châteauneufs this year. Will age well. A Mourvèdre-led expression of Beaucastel - it contains more than usual, at least 35% and probably more. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudre. Drinking Window: 2030 – 2045" – Matt Walls, Decanter (September 2022)

93-95 Points: "Coming in at 14% alcohol, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise, 5% Syrah, 5% Cinsaut and other permitted varieties. The result is magnificent, wafting from the glass with fragrant aromas of juicy red fruits mingling with hints of black cherry, mint, garrigue and a pinch of white pepper. Full-bodied and layered, ever-so-velvety tannins wrap this elegant-to-the-core polished red, before concluding with a bright finish. Drinking window: 2025 – 2039" – Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous (April 2023)

94 Points: "The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape ratchets up the intensity from the Coudelet, adding more pronounced Mourvèdre-derived notes of truffle and tree bark to go with ripe black cherries and plums, crushed stone and hints of dark chocolate. Full-bodied in the mouth, with ample concentration and richness, this gently tannic wine finishes long and velvety, with echoes of licorice and dark fruit. It's a standout from a difficult vintage. Drink Date: 2024 – 2040" – Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (October 2023)

94 Points, "Collectible": "Toasty, meaty and inviting, this fresh red shows an understated, savory side, with notes of singed spices, mesquite, wet earth and fresh tobacco leaf flanking a silky range of plum and warm cherry compote flavors. This channels its terroir, with a round feel held in check by refined tannins, while the finish is lined with cool minerality and heavy iron. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret Blanc, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul de Pinet, Bourboulenc, Picardan and Roussanne. Drink now through 2030." – Kristen Bieler, Wine Spectator (March 2024)

94 Points: "Including more Mourvèdre than usual (40%), the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape sports a deep ruby/purple hue as well as an utterly classic Beaucastel nose of ripe red and blue fruits, spice, game, truffly earth, and ground pepper. Reminding me of the 2012, it's medium to full-bodied, has a layered, concentrated md-palate, sweet tannins, and a great finish." – Jeb Dunnuck, (October 2023)

FROM THE IMPORTER

Château de Beaucastel has long been regarded as one of the greatest wines in France. It is notorious for its elegance, balance and ageing potential. Beaucastel has an exceptional terroir at the Northern limit of Châteauneuf du Pape, exposed to the Mistral wind. All thirteen varieties of the appellation have been organically grown since the sixties.

THE VINTAGE
2021 is a vintage marked by freshness, which is similar to the vintages we had in the eighties and nineties. It is also what we call a "winegrower vintage", human intervention and the care given to the vines were decisive for the quality of the vintage. Marked by climatic vagaries, with an episode of frost in April and interrupted harvest because of rain, this year has indeed required constant investment from our teams in the vineyard. Their attention and their commitment have borne their fruit: this vintage is very promising with lots of freshness and great balance.

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 authorized by the appellation.

AGING
Each variety is harvested separately and manually. Vinification takes place in oak fermenters for the reductive varieties (Mourvèdre, Syrah) and in traditional enameled concrete tanks for the Oxidative grapes (all the others). Once the malolactic fermentation is finished, the Famille Perrin blends the different varieties. The blend is then aged in oak Foudres for a year before being bottled.

VARIETALS
Grenache: 30%
Mourvèdre: 30%
Syrah: 15%
Counoise: 10%
Vaccarèse, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul, Picardan, Bourboulenc, Roussanne: 10%
Cinsault: 5%

SERVING
Around 15°C (59°F). If possible, decant the wine.

TASTING NOTES
Magnificent deep-red colour with purple undertones. Both subtle and of great aromatic richness, the nose reveals a very nice balance between the maturity and freshness of the fruit and superb notes of fresh fruit and spices. Very elegant, ample and silky on the palate, it opens up with a spicy attack with aromas of "garrigue" then reveals, as on the nose, a perfect balance between its beautiful tannic richness and its delicate roundness. The very long finish suggests great potential.

GREEN PRACTICES
Organic Practicing