Chateau de Beaucastel Rouge Chateauneuf du Pape AOC 2013

The story :
Château de Beaucastel has long been regarded as one of the greatest wines in France. It is notorious for its elegance, balance and ageing potential. Beaucastel has an exceptional terroir at the Northern limit of Châteauneuf du Pape, exposed to the Mistral wind. All thirteen varieties of the appellation have been organically grown since the sixties.

The vintage :
The vintage started with a long winter and one of the driest ones in the past years followed by an inexistent Spring. The crop development was very slow due to important climatic variations. The winemakers’ work was therefore crucial to get good quality grapes in small quantities. 2013 was a complicated vintage and late but is wonderfully balanced and is very promising.

Terroir :
Château de Beaucastel is 110 hectares, with one single plot at the north of the appellation. The terroir is archetypal of the best terroirs in Châteauneuf: rolled pebbles on the surface, sand, clay and limestone deeper down. The vines are old and have been organically grown for 50 years, which has allowed the roots to grow exceptionally deep.
Beaucastel grows all thirteen grape varieties authorized by the appellation.

Ageing :
Each variety is harvested separately and manually. Vinification takes place in oak fermenters for the reductive varieties (Mourvèdre, Syrah) and in traditional enameled concrete tanks for the Oxidative grapes (all the others). Once the malolactic fermentation is finished, the Famille Perrin blends the different varieties. The blend is then aged in oak Foudres for a year before being bottled.

Tasting notes :
This year Syrah and Mourvedre presented beautifully. Harvested at perfect maturity, the Grenache brings power and body to this vintage. Our 2013 has more of a northern style than southern. Rich, deep colours, the nose has complex notes of black fruit and cocoa, tobacco and mild spices. The mouth is full-­‐bodied and long, the tannins are rich and soft with a beautiful persistent finish.