Château de Beaucastel - Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2022

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Since 1909, Beaucastel has been owned by the Perrin family, now under the management of Jean-Pierre and François, the sons of Jacques Perrin, accompanied by Cécile, Marc, Pierre, Thomas, Charles, Mathieu, and César, the fifth generation. In other words, it's a family affair! Located on 100 hectares of rounded pebbles, including 30 hectares in Côtes du Rhône (Coudoulet de Beaucastel), Château Beaucastel produces four wines. In white, a classic cuvée dominated by Roussanne, and the famous Roussanne-Vieilles-Vignes cuvée. In red, Mourvèdre plays a major role, accounting for nearly a third of the plantings, as much as Grenache. This unusual proportion was strategic in 2018 and allowed Beaucastel to achieve its characteristic finesse and freshness. This is undoubtedly one of the finest wine estates in France, with, in our opinion, an added purity in recent years.

Decanter

About wine:

This year, the color is dark and inky. It is fresh with red fruit flavors, very powerful, with muscular tannins and powerful acidity. It is a dense and dark Beaucastel vintage. However, the aromatic precision is extremely impressive: elderberry, sloe, and blackberry. It is solid and will age well. Do not taste it young, as it may disappoint if opened too early. Grenache and Cinsault are fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre are fermented in casks. Syrah and Counoise are fermented as whole clusters.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

Aged 100% in large oak barrels, Château de Beaucastel's 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape evokes aromas of wild black berries, black cherries, spices, and licorice, mingled with a hint of chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, deep and dense, it is perfectly balanced with a structured, textured and harmonious mid-palate, enhanced by velvety tannins and a delicate, long peppery finish. César Perrin wants to reduce the percentage of Syrah in favor of Counoise. This harmonious Beaucastel, aged in large oak barrels, is therefore a blend of 30% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, 10% Counoise, 5% Cinsault, 5% Terret Noir, 5% Muscardin, 5% Vaccarèse and 20% white grape varieties such as Roussanne and Clairette.

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

About wine:

An expressive fruit with notes of black berries and garrigue. Mourvèdre makes its presence felt, bringing notes of menthol. The palate is full-bodied and chewy, with a tannic structure that adds tension to a powerful whole. Ripe and fresh, this is a wine with excellent aging potential.

About the estate:

With its unique terroir of rounded pebbles, Château de Beaucastel is one of the emblems of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This estate can boast of being one of the few to use all thirteen authorized grape varieties to produce its red wine. The wine is consistently of a very high standard, but faces competition from other vintages that have shaken up the appellation's hierarchy. Of course, the extremely rare and remarkable Hommage à Jacques Perrin vintage, made predominantly from Mourvèdre and produced only in great years, remains a benchmark, as does the sumptuous Roussanne Vieilles Vignes white, which reveals itself over time. Under the efficient management of the Perrin family, Château de Beaucastel remains a benchmark for wines from the south of France, a status it now shares with other estates that have reached or even surpassed its level.

Jancis Robinson

About wine:

The nose is incredibly juicy, with notes of black tea, leather, and spices. The palate is round, elegant, and opulent. There is a lot of density on the palate. The mid-palate is supple and the finish is rich and fleshy. The acidity is good and fresh. The palate is heavy but balanced by the freshness of the acidity. Complex and impressive!

James Suckling

About wine:

A textured, structured, and precise red wine with aromas of cherry, raspberry, warm herbs, bay leaves, and baking spices. It is medium-bodied to full-bodied, with silky, beautifully integrated tannins. Very well integrated. Lively and concentrated, with lots of energy and verve to complement the ripe red fruit and dried herbs. The long, flavorful finish is marked by an intense rush of spice. Made from organically grown grapes. Best enjoyed after 2027.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

The Châteauneuf Du Pape 2022 is a true Provençal success, with almost overflowing aromas and flavors of sweet raspberry, blackberry, peppery garrigue, and Provençal spices. It displays the sunny, expressive, and complex style of the vintage, with medium-bodied to full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, and an excellent finish. Like most 2022s, it has plenty of charm right from the start, but also solid underlying tannins. It reminds me slightly of the 2009 and will have a longevity of two decades.