Ch.de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape 1998 750ml

Wine Advocate #220, Aug 28, 2015, by Jeb Dunnuck
The atypically Grenache-dominated 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape is fully mature and gives up tons of kirsch, garrigue, licorice and a touch of gaminess in its full-bodied, layered and ripe personality. More rounded and sexy than most vintages, it has no hard edges, plenty of mid-palate depth and a great finish. I see no reason to delay gratification, but it will certainly hold for 5-10 years.

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