Coudoulet de Beaucastel - Côtes du Rhône 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.

The 2023 Côtes-du-Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel reveals aromas of black fruit, flowers, spices, and garrigue, followed by a medium-bodied to full-bodied palate that is round and alluring, supported by velvety tannins. It concludes with a long, fruity, and indulgent finish. This is an excellent vintage for the Coudoulet, a blend composed of 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault.

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.

Salty and earthy, with a ripe core of black raspberry and cherry that unfolds, enhanced by notes of dusty earth and alder smoke. The refined tannins of rooibos tea add a delicate touch to this savory, briny finish. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsaut. Enjoy now through 2029.

The 2023 Côtes-du-Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel proved to be a great success, revealing fragrant aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and earthy notes. Medium-bodied, silky, and refreshing, the 2023 is a delicate and refined red Côtes-du-Rhône, crafted by the talented Perrin family, which finishes with energy and a refined aftertaste.

A full-bodied, precise, juicy, and well-balanced wine that reveals aromas of red berries, sweet spices, and dried flowers. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins. Its silky texture is enhanced by a lovely note of crushed strawberries. Lively and fruity, it offers a seductive and succulent finish, enhanced by a hint of pepper.

Bottled three months ago and already resplendent, the 2023 Côtes-du-Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel is composed of equal parts Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre (30% each), with 10% Cinsault, and was aged entirely in large oak casks. It offers aromas of black berries, pepper, fresh flowers, and a pronounced minerality—both stony and earthy—in a medium-bodied style that is well-concentrated and rich in nuance. It is well-balanced, with exceptional purity, ripe tannins, and a remarkable finish, offering incredible enjoyment right now, but it will age well for 10 to 12 years. Best enjoyed between 2025 and 2036.