Château de Beaucastel, Chateauneuf du Pape 2009 - Magnum 150cl
Tasting
"Almost black color."
Very fine and powerful nose at the same time, of red fruits, blackcurrant, blackberry, spices, thyme, and lavender.
Magnificent mouth attack, ample and supple. Fig, cherry, blackberry, stewed fruits... are supported by a beautiful acidity. The tannins are present but extremely fine.
A great vintage of Beaucastel.
"An expressive nose with aromas of honey, candied citrus, and brown sugar, the wine is generously oaked, with a refined richness in the finish."
"This is not the bottled final blend but it's very close to it. 13 varieties including 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache and 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 5% Cinsault. Held back but there is so much waiting to escape. You can feel all those components coming together (I had just tasted the varieties Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Cinsault as separate - non-commerical - bottlings). The brightness of the Grenache, that dry, firm framework and length from the Mourvèdre and the completeness of the blend. Dry, fresh, long and impressive in its embryonic state. Power and finesse. Great length."
"This is a very good vintage. The key word is balance, since high alcohol, low acidity and robust tannins can be features... top names have delivered classy, pure fruit. The wines will live well. Bountiful aroma; nuanced, engaging fruit. Drink 2016-2045."
"The 2009 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape is reminiscent of their brilliant 1985. It will be one of the rare Beaucastels that is drinkable upon release. Made from this estate’s classic blend, it possesses soft tannins as well as a silky, open-knit seductiveness, a dense plum/purple color and a beautiful perfume of smoky Provencal herbs intermixed with grilled steak juices, garrigue, kirsch and blue as well as black fruits. The wine is full-bodied, unctuously textured, and silky smooth (the latter characteristic being somewhat atypical for a young Beaucastel). If it performs like the 1985, it will drink well young and continue to do so for 25 or more years."
Food and wine pairings
Wine service
- Serving temperature : 15°C
- If possible, consider decanting the wine.
- Conservation : To drink and to keep until 2040
- Alcohol: 13.5°
Technical specifications
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Estate: Château de Beaucastel
- Cuvée: Chateauneuf du Pape
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Appellation: AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape
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Region: Southern Rhône Valley
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Color: Red wine
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Type: dry, still
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Vintage: 2009
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Average age of the vines:
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Terroir:
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Sun : Format : Magnum 150 CL
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Grape varieties :
Grenache: 30%
Mourvèdre: 30%
Vaccarèse, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul, Picardan, Bourboulenc, Roussanne: 15%
Counoise: 10%
Syrah: 10%
The history :
Château de Beaucastel has long been considered one of the greatest wines in France and is unanimously renowned for its balance, elegance, and aging capacity. Beaucastel has an extraordinary terroir at the northern tip of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, highly exposed to the Mistral. The thirteen grape varieties of the appellation have been cultivated organically since the 1960s.
The vintage :
The 2009 vintage is characterized by a beautiful structure and soft tannins, a balanced whole with good acidity achieved despite the high temperatures of August, thanks to the relative coolness of the nights and the root work. Traits that recall great vintages such as 2005 or 2007, which, when tasted today, reveal great aging potential.
Location :
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, between Orange and Avignon, the Château de Beaucastel red is a vineyard of 70 hectares.
Terroir :
Château de Beaucastel has about 110 hectares of contiguous land in the northern part of the appellation.
The terroir is the archetype of the great terroirs of Châteauneuf: rolled pebbles on the surface, clays, sands, and limestone in depth. The vines are old, and the organic farming practiced for over 50 years has allowed their roots to dive deep.
Beaucastel cultivates the thirteen grape varieties authorized by the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation.
Raising :
Each grape variety is harvested separately by hand. The vinification takes place in wooden conical tanks for the reductive grape varieties (syrah, mourvèdre) and in traditional concrete and enamelled stone tanks for the oxidative grape varieties (grenache). After the malolactic fermentations, the Perrin family assembles the different grape varieties, and then the wine will age in oak casks for a year before bottling.