Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape AC - 2004
Where it's from:
>France
>Rhone
>Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Price per case:
£478.30
Bottle size:
75 cl
Bottles per case:
12
Style:
Soft & Supple Reds
Grapes:
Mourvedre / Grenache / Syrah (Shiraz)
Description:
The result of the effort and innovation of three generations of the Perrin family is clearly evident when one has the pleasure of tasting a good vintage of Chateau de Beaucastel at its peak. If one word can describe the red wines of Beaucastel it must be 'pure': pure because they are the natural expression of the earth and the grapes from whence they came. In this case the vineyard is a patchwork of all 13 permitted grape varieties covering 70 hectares in all.
The thirteen grape varieties of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation are used in this wine with a strong percentage of Mourvedre and Grenache (30% each), Syrah 10%, Counoise 10% Cinsault 5% and the rest divided up among the remaining grape varieties: Vaccarese, Terret noir, Muscardin, Picpoul, Picardan, Bourboulenc, Roussanne.
The Grenache and the Cinsault give the wine its colour, intensity and softness. The Mourvedre, Syrah, Muscardin and Vaccarese give the wine its renowned ageing potential and dark, classic character. While the Counoise, Picpoul and so on give a certain freshness, fragrance and aromatic quality.
The soil is the same porous, aerated blanket of Alpine diluvium (rounded stones) on a base of Miocene marine limestone that exists elsewhere on the estate. The vines are on average 50 years old and yields are never more than 30 hectolitres per hectare and often much less. It is a vibrant and healthy vineyard due to years of organic cultivation and close monitoring of the needs of each vine.
A dark, dense coloured wine with a nose of ripe fruit including cherries. Complex yet creamy on the palate, it is showing good tannin structure and well balanced acidity. Supple, yet firm the finish is smooth and long.
