Ch.de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape 2016 750ml

Wine Advocate #238, Sep 01, 2018 by Joe Czerwinski
Bottled only a week before my visit, I was blown away by how well Beaucastel's 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape was showing. It's full-bodied, creamy, lush and rich, with layers of raspberry fruit, garrigue and spice that unfold across a seamless palate. No doubt it will go through cycles of being open and closed throughout its lifespan, but it would be a mistake to simply order a case, put it into storage and forget about it without trying one first and swooning over the sheer lusciousness and youthful complexity.

100 hectares of Chateau Beaucastel are planted to vines. 70 of those hectares are located in Chateauneuf du Pape in the Chapouin and Coudoulet lieux-dits. The other 30 hectares are situated in the Cotes du Rhone appellation of Coudoulet.
Beaucastel is known for having plantings of all 13 grapes for the red wine. They also include close to 5% of their white grape varieties in the final blend as well.
This was quite risky Beaucastel begin to farm their vineyards organically in 1950. By 1974, they were also one of the first to farm using biodynamic farming techniques.
For their red wine, Chateau Beaucastel produces 4 wines; Beaucastel, Coudoulet de Beaucastel and Les Sinards along with the rare, expensive and sublime, Hommage a Jacques Perrin.
Starting with the 2009 vintage, Beaucastel became one of the first wines outside of Bordeaux to be sold on the Place de Bordeaux by Bordeaux negociants. The Perrin family also produces one of the best red and white wines from their 30 hectares of vines in the Cotes du Rhone.

Meats, Lamb