The 2004 Beaucastel was the winning bottle in the August Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. This bottle was decanted for one hour.
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.
Deep red in color. 14% ABV. Somewhat subdued nose of red fruits, herbes de Provence, menthol and garrigue. Medium body with medium to strong acidity. Cherries, iron, white pepper and licorice on the palate. The finish is long with refined tannins. Even at 12 years of age this wine seems a touch primary. I expect more secondary characteristics in the years to come. Drink over the next 4-6 years.
My rating: 92 points.
Current vintages of Beaucastel including the ’13 are widely available at retail and a good buy in the $75 range.
If you enjoyed this post please consider subscribing to Zinfandel Chronicles updates by email.