Château de Beaucastel - Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Beaucastel has been owned by the Perrin family since 1909, and is now run by Jean-Pierre and François, the sons of Jacques Perrin, along with Cécile, Marc, Pierre, Thomas, Charles, Mathieu and César, the fifth generation. In other words: a family affair! Situated on a 100-hectare terroir of rolled pebbles, including 30 hectares of Côtes du Rhône (Coudoulet de Beaucastel), Château Beaucastel produces four wines. In white, a classic cuvée dominated by Roussanne, and the famous cuvée Roussanne-Vieilles-Vignes. In the reds, Mourvèdre plays a major role, accounting for almost a third of plantings, as much as Grenache. This unusual proportion was strategic in 2018, helping to achieve Beaucastel's characteristic finesse and freshness. This is undoubtedly one of France's finest wine estates, with, it seems to us, an added purity in recent years.

Decanter

About the wine:

A deep, rather herbaceous expression, marked by notes of licorice, crushed blueberries and blackcurrant. Full-bodied, powerfully fruity, dense and deep. The palate is truly enveloping and the fruit intense. The tannins are ripe, fine and abundant, all saturated with blackberry juice on a long finish. Certainly one of the most successful Châteauneufs of the vintage. It will age well. An expression of Beaucastel dominated by Mourvèdre - it contains more than usual, at least 35% and probably more. Grenache and Cinsault vinified in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre vinified in foudre.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Châteauneuf du Pape 2021 enhances the intensity of Coudelet, adding more pronounced notes of truffle and tree bark from the Mourvèdre to accompany black cherries and ripe plums, crushed stones and hints of dark chocolate. Full-bodied on the palate, with plenty of concentration and richness, this lightly tannic wine finishes long and velvety, with echoes of licorice and black fruits. A remarkable wine in a difficult vintage.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

With its distinctive terroir of rolled pebbles, Château de Beaucastel is one of the emblems of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This estate is proud to be one of the few to use all thirteen authorized grape varieties to produce its red wine. A wine of consistently high quality, but one that faces competition from cuvées that have upset the appellation's hierarchy. Of course, the extremely rare and remarkable cuvée Hommage à Jacques Perrin, made from a large majority of Mourvèdre and produced only in the best years, remains a benchmark, as does the sumptuous white Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, which reveals itself with age. Under the efficient management of the Perrin family, Château de Beaucastel remains a benchmark for wines from the South of France, a status it must now share with other estates that have reached, or even surpassed, its level.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

Very attractive nose, licorice, crushed dark cassis, leather, strawberry jam - earthy dark spices. Supple, ripe palate with good freshness and acidity. Tight and fine, firm tannins, dark fruit, licorice, thyme and a ripe, flavor-tinged finish. Wonderful.

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

The 14% alcohol Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021 is a blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise, 5% Syrah, 5% Cinsaut and other authorized grape varieties. The result is magnificent, with juicy red fruit aromas mingling with notes of black cherry, mint, garrigue and a pinch of white pepper that escape the glass. The palate is full-bodied and structured, with ever-so-smooth tannins enveloping this elegant, refined red, before a brilliant finish.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Still a little closed, the fruit is therefore a little reserved, but the aromas of meat, lavender and rosemary are already present. Well-structured and crisp, the tannins develop steadily as the tasting progresses. Concentrated, ripe red fruit wraps deftly around the core. Long, spicy, liquorice finish. To be enjoyed straight from the bottle. Made from organically grown grapes.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

With more Mourvèdre than usual (40%), Châteauneuf Du Pape 2021 boasts a deep ruby/purple hue and a classic Beaucastel nose of ripe red and blue fruits, spices, game, truffled earth and ground pepper. This wine, which reminds me of the 2012, is medium to full-bodied, with a structured, concentrated mouthfeel, soft tannins and an excellent finish.