Ch.de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape 2008 1500ml

Wine Advocate #191, Oct 31, 2010
The 2008 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape is one of the few outstanding wines produced in this vintage. More evolved than Beaucastel’s wines tend to be, it reveals a healthy dark plum/ruby color, notes of licorice, meat juices, smoked game, black currants and garrigue, medium to full body, silky tannins, good freshness, surprising depth for the vintage and a long finish. Drink it over the next decade.

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