CHATEAU DE BEAUCASTEL, CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE
Château de Beaucastel is arguably the most
celebrated wine of 
the southern Rhone and lies
within the appellation of Chateauneuf du Pape.
Currently managed by Jean Pierre and Francoise
Perrin, the Chateau is steeped in history, the
Beaucastel family having established themselves in
the area by 1549.
Châteauneuf du Pape, the
'Pope’s new castle',
takes its name from the 14th Century, when the
papal court re-located to Avignon. The monastery
subsequently increased their vineyard holdings in
the region; however the unique and expressive
wines did not gain significant notoriety until the
early 19th Century.
The terroir at Château de Beaucastel is
fascinating and distinctive. The topsoil contains
a high proportion of rounded stones, sometimes
referred to as galets. These galets make an
important contribution to the style and quality of
the wines, as they retain the heat from the sun
during the day and radiate it to the vines at
night. These 'natural radiators', combined with
the stony, aerated and free draining soil, and
large daily fluctuations in temperature within the
vineyard, provide for an exceptional quality of
fruit and a uniqueness in the wine that is
unmistakable.
The Château cultivates all thirteen of the
permitted varieties within the appellation:
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Vacarese,
Counoise, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Clairette,
Picpoul, Picardin, Bourboulenc and Rousanne. This
allows for the production of complex, spicy, full
bodied and rich red wine and also for full bodied
and intriguing white wine. Also, the largely
organic methods adopted at the Château allow for
healthy, balanced grapes that are a true
expression of the terroir.
Each year the grapes are hand-picked and totally
de-stemmed, prior to vinification in fermentation
vats. All of the grape varieties are vinified
separately and are then blended, which is a time
consuming and meticulous process as the blends
vary from year to year. The wine is then matured
for 12 months in large oak barrels.
Hommage
à Jacques Perrin is only produced in
outstanding vintages and the 2007 has been hailed
as “an utterly perfect wine” by Robert Parker, who
has awarded it 100 points. Hommage à Jacques
Perrin is mostly made with fruit from ancient
Mourvedre vines and is blended with Syrah,
Counoise and Grenache. This provides for
exceptionally concentrated wines, with aromas of
black cherry, cassis and spice that are capable of
ageing and improving for decades.
Wines
- Hommage à Jacques Perrin, Châteauneuf du Pape
- Beaucastel Rouge, Châteauneuf du Pape
- Beaucastel Blanc, Châteauneuf du Pape
- Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, Châteauneuf du Pape
- Coudoulet de Beaucastel Rouge, Châteauneuf du Pape
- Coudoulet de Beaucastel Blanc, Châteauneuf du Pape
Top Château de Beaucastel vintages produced
1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007