Rhone

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.

Score: 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (197), October 2011

The 2009 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape (30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise and the balance other permitted varietals) exhibits an opaque purple color as well as sweet aromas of camphor, truffles, black cherries, black currants, licorice, pepper and forest floor. The wine is full-bodied, rich, intense and powerful. Moreover, there is a lot more of the 2009 than there is of the 2008 (after the strict selection, only 50% of the normal production was achieved). Because of the significant tannins, the 2009 requires 3-5 years of bottle age and should evolve for 25-30 years.

Score: 92/95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (191), October 2010

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. 14%

Score: 18 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, November 2010

Rating

99

Release Price

NA

Drink Date

2022 - 2042

Reviewed by

Jeb Dunnuck

Issue Date

31st Oct 2014

Source

215, The Wine Advocate

The wine of the vintage is the Perrin’s 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin, and it will most likely merit a perfect rating in another couple of years. Full-bodied, massive and layered on the palate, with awesome purity and freshness, it delivers incredible aromatics of beef blood, truffle, graphite, iron and black and blue fruits. Given all of the fruit and texture, you almost have to hunt for the structure here, but trust me, it’s there. The tasting at Beaucastel took place a 9 a.m., and even then, this is one wine I found impossible to spit. It’s a tour de force that will have 3-4 decades of life.

A classic blend of mostly Mourvèdre, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin is a blockbuster that’s certainly the wine of the vintage. Possessing an inky purple color to go with an incredible bouquet of blueberries, garrigue, olive tapenade, beef blood and pepper. Rich, full-bodied, powerful and layered, with sweet, ripe tannin, it's a more approachable example of this cuvée that past vintage, yet will keep for 3 decades or more.

Score: 99 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, October 2017

A well-endowed wine, dripping with cassis, plum sauce and raspberry puree flavors supported by notes of warmed apple wood, black tea and melted licorice. Dense yet remarkably polished, and almost supple in feel, with a bolt of warm earth scoring the very end of the finish. Best from 2025 through 2050. 170 cases made.

Score: 98 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Advance, June 2018

Inky ruby. Potent blackberry, cassis, potpourri and garrigue aromas expand with air, picking up Indian spice and mineral nuances and a hint of smokiness. Sweet and seamless in texture, offering wonderfully concentrated yet lively dark fruit liqueur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors and a touch of candied licorice. Deftly blends richness and vivacity and finishes spicy, focused and extremely long; pliant tannins add shape and closing grip.

Score: 95/97 Josh Raynolds, vinous.com, March 2017