Chateau de Beaucastel, located in Courthezon in the Southern Rhone Valley, has over 250 acres of organic vineyards. Unlike many Rhone Valley producers, Beaucastel grows all 13 of the grapes permitted in the appellation and the estate uses an unusually high percentage of Mourvèdre in its red wines, usually around 30%, along with 30% Grenache and smaller amounts of Syrah, Counoise, Cinsault, Vaccarese and Muscardin. The estate’s most prestigious wine, Hommage a Jacques Perrin, is made with 70% Mourvedre. Several families have owned the estate over the course of its 400-year history and the present owners are the Perrin family, whose ownership of the estate dates to 1909.
Crimson in color and clear throughout. 13.5% ABV. The 1994 Beaucastel had an unusually high 40% Mourvèdre. Great nose of dried fruit, leather, lavender and rosemary. Medium in body with medium acidity. Kirsch, plum, iodine, saline and dried cherries on the palate. Supple tannins. The finish is exceptional. A fully mature Beaucastel that should be opened over the next year or so.
My rating: 93 points.
Current vintages of Beaucastel including the ’09 and ’10 are still available and were a buy for me in the $80 range.
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