Château de Beaucastel
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend
Cool and collected. Gnarly blue fruit, dried herbs and a bloodiness. Lean but soulful
Cool and collected. Gnarly blue fruit, dried herbs and a bloodiness. Lean but soulful
Mar 7th, 2024Lovely and ripe on the nose with really punchy plum and pepper. On the palate a bit hot and short compared to the others alongside
Lovely and ripe on the nose with really punchy plum and pepper. On the palate a bit hot and short compared to the others alongside
Mar 7th, 2024Calm and resolved noise with gorgeous fruit. Poised on the midpalate. Very good
Calm and resolved noise with gorgeous fruit. Poised on the midpalate. Very good
Mar 7th, 2024Rating refers to the last glass, which was the best. Our foul… upon opening it was almost a little thin and flat. But as we swirled it got better and better until there was quickly none left. Last glass had bramble, earth, caramel. Nice 1998!
Rating refers to the last glass, which was the best. Our foul… upon opening it was almost a little thin and flat. But as we swirled it got better and better until there was quickly none left. Last glass had bramble, earth, caramel. Nice 1998!
Dec 29th, 2023Excellent. Still has some primary fruit but the red plum, smoked meats and dried herbs are really what’s screaming. This was one of the best 20 + year old cdp’s I’ve had. Lovely
Excellent. Still has some primary fruit but the red plum, smoked meats and dried herbs are really what’s screaming. This was one of the best 20 + year old cdp’s I’ve had. Lovely
Dec 28th, 20231995. Lost something. But sure. In great shape and historically lovely. What a treat
1995. Lost something. But sure. In great shape and historically lovely. What a treat
Dec 25th, 2023I’ve often struggled to appreciate Beaucastel, particularly when young. However, the more often I drink older Beaucastel, I find myself slowly starting to understand why these wines are so important.
Opened about two hours prior. The 2001 Beaucastel pours a pale, slightly hazy garnet with a watery rim. Medium+ viscosity with signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous. Strawberry preserves, leather, bacon fat, and some chicory. On the palate, medium tannin, medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Is this the most powerful expression of Chateauneuf du Pape? No. But it’s balanced, complex and it makes me think and I like that.
As a sort of epilogue, I was able to enjoy this bottle with someone who drinks old Beaucastel more regularly than I do. He described this bottle as being one that is in-between plentitudes; which makes sense as some of the tertiary characteristics are beginning to show themselves. Subsequently, you can drink now but this will likely enter a new dimension in the next few years.
I’ve often struggled to appreciate Beaucastel, particularly when young. However, the more often I drink older Beaucastel, I find myself slowly starting to understand why these wines are so important.
Opened about two hours prior. The 2001 Beaucastel pours a pale, slightly hazy garnet with a watery rim. Medium+ viscosity with signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous. Strawberry preserves, leather, bacon fat, and some chicory. On the palate, medium tannin, medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Is this the most powerful expression of Chateauneuf du Pape? No. But it’s balanced, complex and it makes me think and I like that.
As a sort of epilogue, I was able to enjoy this bottle with someone who drinks old Beaucastel more regularly than I do. He described this bottle as being one that is in-between plentitudes; which makes sense as some of the tertiary characteristics are beginning to show themselves. Subsequently, you can drink now but this will likely enter a new dimension in the next few years.
Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), Chateauneuf du Pape; 5 October 2023 at Café Capriccio, Albany, NY
Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), Chateauneuf du Pape; 5 October 2023 at Café Capriccio, Albany, NY
Oct 6th, 2023