2021 Beaucastel

[Nicklasss]

After a few wines at 20$, it was time to open one at 5 times 20$.

And it wasn't opened in vain, because this Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Beaucastel, my favorite estate (as Rayas is harder to find), was divine after 90 minutes of aeration. Its slightly opaque red color, complex and delicate nose of purple grapes, blackberries, smoke, leather or meat, black licorice, dried flowers, camphor, and sweet spices. Surely a touch of savory. On the palate, it's bursting with flavors like purple flowers, garrigue, blackberries, and dark fruit. Medium concentration, but present and long. Fine tannins, licorice, minerals, a touch of oak, a hint of herbaceous incense, and a return of purple fruit. Long and superbly fresh.

For a vintage rated average, the Beaucastel team has managed to transcend the vintage; that's the mark of the very best! Bravo. Rated 94. And will be at its best over the next 15 years. Convincing.

[JCNorthway]

Sounds like a wine that would be nice to have in your cellar. Thanks for the note.

[Comte Flaneur]

I found your note interesting too Nic, given how young this wine is, and given that I have come round to the view that if you want to drink Chateauneuf you are better off drinking bottles with plenty of age and from cooler vintages. I guess the 2021 ticks the second box, but not the first one.

However one wine that I have enjoyed young on a few occasions is Coudoulet de Beaucastel, a really useful wine.

[Nicklasss]

Long dinner with MC and the kids, we drank 2/3 of the bottle over 3.5 hours, long time analyze it.

I opened it being myself a bit unsure about what we would have, but liked it a lot, and MC too (one week ago she told me she doesn’t to drink red anymore, only Champagne and white).

I have 1/3 of the bottle left, will retaste tonight to see aging potential. But getting the 13 type of grape in that wine, and the lower tone vintage, surely help a bit to be so good now.

But hey, it is not the 1989 or 1998.