Château de Beaucastel - Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2023

Since 1909, Beaucastel has been owned by the Perrin family. Today, it is 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 business! Situated on 100 hectares of rounded pebble soil, including 30 hectares in the Côtes du Rhône (Coudoulet de Beaucastel), Château Beaucastel produces four wines. Among the whites are a classic cuvée dominated by Roussanne and the famous Roussanne-Vieilles-Vignes cuvée. For the reds, Mourvèdre plays a major role, accounting for nearly a third of the vineyards—as much as Grenache. This unusual proportion was a strategic choice in 2018 and helped achieve the finesse and freshness characteristic of Beaucastel. This is undoubtedly one of the finest wine estates in France, and, in our opinion, it has shown even greater purity in recent years.

A tasting of the grape varieties that make up this year’s wine—so this is a preliminary note. The Terret Noir, Muscardin, and Vaccarèse were fermented together; they contribute the most fragrant, lively, and alluring top notes, even if they lack a bit of depth. The Cinsault was fragrant and fresh, with fine tannins. The Counoise was more flavorful, with greater depth and tannins; it was taut and briny, with a spicy character thanks to 50% whole-cluster fermentation. The Grenache was smooth and supple, fairly dark in color, well-structured, with impressive freshness, tannins, and acidity. The Syrah was deep and intense, with aromas of black fruit and pepper—quite high in alcohol, with intense tannins. Mourvèdre will make up 30% of the blend, contributing enveloping, deep, and succulent tannins, plenty of body, and a fairly high alcohol content. The overall impression is that of a deliciously rich and ripe Beaucastel, less structured than the 2022, which should score around 95–96 once blended and bottled.

As is customary, Château de Beaucastel’s 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape was aged in large oak casks. It releases aromas of pepper, garrigue, black berries, and flowers from the glass. Medium-bodied to full-bodied on the palate, it is round and lively, with a multifaceted, fruity core and a dense, precise mid-palate, framed by velvety tannins, leading to a firmer, delicately spicy finish.

With its unique terroir of rounded pebbles, Château de Beaucastel is one of the icons of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This estate can pride itself on being one of the few to use all thirteen authorized grape varieties in the production of its red wine. A wine that consistently maintains a very high standard, though it faces competition from cuvées that have shaken up the appellation’s hierarchy. Certainly, the extremely rare and remarkable “Hommage à Jacques Perrin” cuvée—made predominantly from Mourvèdre and produced only in exceptional vintages—remains a benchmark, as does the sumptuous “Roussanne Vieilles Vignes” white, which reveals its full potential with age. Under the Perrin family’s capable leadership, Château de Beaucastel remains a benchmark for wines from southern France—a status it must now share with other estates that have reached, or even surpassed, its level.

Dark and dense, it displays real power and beautiful concentration. It offers much more than just ripe fruit aromas, with notes of violet, blackberry, and plum mingling with black pepper, cured meats, toasted spices, and a hint of iron. With a beautiful texture and a pleasant mouthfeel, this wine brims with energy right through to its youthful, taut finish. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul, Bourboulenc, Picardan, and Roussanne. Best enjoyed between 2027 and 2040.

Intense aromas of licorice and wild berries mask the deep tannic structure of this Châteauneuf-du-Pape masterpiece. A full-bodied wine, yet one of great finesse. Then, the power and mineral intensity wash over you like a gigantic wave. The freshness is extraordinary for this hot, dry vintage. Powerful tannins in a very long, compact, and refined finish. Can be enjoyed now, but will reach its peak starting in 2027.

The estate lost some of its Grenache due to berry drop; the 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is therefore composed of 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 10% Counoise, and 10% Syrah, with the remainder being a blend of authorized grape varieties. With the exception of the Syrah, all the grapes were destemmed and aged in large oak casks. The higher proportion of Mourvèdre gives it a more serious and concentrated style than most wines from this vintage. On the nose, it displays darker blackberry aromas, intermingled with notes of toasted herbs, spring flowers, violets, and some fleshy nuances. Medium-bodied to full-bodied on the palate, with a deep, pure, and complex texture, it offers ripe, velvety tannins that are still developing, as well as a lovely finish. Yet another magnificent vintage for this cuvée, which embodies the vintage’s approachable style while offering more than enough density and concentration to age for 30 years. Best enjoyed between 2025 and 2054.