Another excellent vintage from the Perrin Family, Beaucastel, is one of the most recognized names in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and has been the region's measuring stick for many years. The estate has been on a roll the past few vintages, and 2021 looks like an outstanding bottle for the category. Sourcing from one 110-hectare plot, the vines here have been organically grown for over 50 years and are grown on textbook CDP terroir with rolled pebbles on the surface, sand, clay, and limestone deeper down. All 13 accepted varietals in this massive vineyard are grown, harvested separately, and vinified alone. Syrah and Mourvedre see oak fermentation, while the others go into enameled concrete and are only blended after fermentation. The final blend for 2021 came to 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise, 5% Syrah, 5% Cinsaut with the remaining devoted to the other accepted varietals. The blend is then aged in foudre for one year before bottling. The 2021 vintage in Chateauneuf du Pape is turning out quite well despite some tough weather conditions. The year started good but then faced cooler weather and some rain, which made the grape growers work extra hard. They managed the vineyards carefully and picked the grapes a bit later than usual. The wines from this year are not as heavy as in other years, but they have bright, fresh flavors and a nice balance. This vintage shows how skilled the team at Beaucastel is and is a beautiful, more classic example of this loved chateau.
Decanter (Matt Walls) 96 pts! "A deep, quite herbal expression, with liquorice and crushed blueberries to the cassis fruit. Full-bodied, powerfully fruited, dense and deep. Really mouthcoating, intense fruit. The tannins are ripe, fine and plentiful, all saturated in blackberry juice on a long finish. Certainly one of the more successful Châteauneufs this year. Will age well. A Mourvèdre-led expression of Beaucastel - it contains more than usual, at least 35% and probably more. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudre. (Drink between 2030 - 2045)"
Wine Advocate (Joe Czerwinski) 94 pts! "The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape ratchets up the intensity from the Coudelet, adding more pronounced Mourvèdre-derived notes of truffle and tree bark to go with ripe black cherries and plums, crushed stone and hints of dark chocolate. Full-bodied in the mouth, with ample concentration and richness, this gently tannic wine finishes long and velvety, with echoes of licorice and dark fruit. It's a standout from a difficult vintage."
Vinous 93-95 pts! "Coming in at 14% alcohol, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise, 5% Syrah, 5% Cinsaut and other permitted varieties. The result is magnificent, wafting from the glass with fragrant aromas of juicy red fruits mingling with hints of black cherry, mint, garrigue and a pinch of white pepper. Full-bodied and layered, ever-so-velvety tannins wrap this elegant-to-the-core polished red, before concluding with a bright finish. (Drink between 2025 - 2039)"
2021 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
2021 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Another excellent vintage from the Perrin Family, Beaucastel, is one of the most recognized names in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and has been the region's measuring stick for many years. The estate has been on a roll the past few vintages, and 2021 looks like an outstanding bottle for the category. Sourcing from one 110-hectare plot, the vines here have been organically grown for over 50 years and are grown on textbook CDP terroir with rolled pebbles on the surface, sand, clay, and limestone deeper down. All 13 accepted varietals in this massive vineyard are grown, harvested separately, and vinified alone. Syrah and Mourvedre see oak fermentation, while the others go into enameled concrete and are only blended after fermentation. The final blend for 2021 came to 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise, 5% Syrah, 5% Cinsaut with the remaining devoted to the other accepted varietals. The blend is then aged in foudre for one year before bottling. The 2021 vintage in Chateauneuf du Pape is turning out quite well despite some tough weather conditions. The year started good but then faced cooler weather and some rain, which made the grape growers work extra hard. They managed the vineyards carefully and picked the grapes a bit later than usual. The wines from this year are not as heavy as in other years, but they have bright, fresh flavors and a nice balance. This vintage shows how skilled the team at Beaucastel is and is a beautiful, more classic example of this loved chateau.
Decanter (Matt Walls) 96 pts! "A deep, quite herbal expression, with liquorice and crushed blueberries to the cassis fruit. Full-bodied, powerfully fruited, dense and deep. Really mouthcoating, intense fruit. The tannins are ripe, fine and plentiful, all saturated in blackberry juice on a long finish. Certainly one of the more successful Châteauneufs this year. Will age well. A Mourvèdre-led expression of Beaucastel - it contains more than usual, at least 35% and probably more. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudre. (Drink between 2030 - 2045)"
Wine Advocate (Joe Czerwinski) 94 pts! "The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape ratchets up the intensity from the Coudelet, adding more pronounced Mourvèdre-derived notes of truffle and tree bark to go with ripe black cherries and plums, crushed stone and hints of dark chocolate. Full-bodied in the mouth, with ample concentration and richness, this gently tannic wine finishes long and velvety, with echoes of licorice and dark fruit. It's a standout from a difficult vintage."
Vinous 93-95 pts! "Coming in at 14% alcohol, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise, 5% Syrah, 5% Cinsaut and other permitted varieties. The result is magnificent, wafting from the glass with fragrant aromas of juicy red fruits mingling with hints of black cherry, mint, garrigue and a pinch of white pepper. Full-bodied and layered, ever-so-velvety tannins wrap this elegant-to-the-core polished red, before concluding with a bright finish. (Drink between 2025 - 2039)"
