Author: Dirk Chan
Chateau de Beaucastel has been around for a long time, since 1549 to be exact. Their wines have drawn admiration going back to the days of Louis XIV. Owned by the Perrin Family since 1909, it is one of the largest estates in the famed Chateauneuf-du-Pape (CdP) region in the Southern Rhone. The Perrin Family acquired the estate just after the devastating phylloxera attack when all 13 allowed grapes were then replanted. They believe in organic farming and has been practicing that since the mid 1960’s and became organically certified in 1994.
The stony, porous soil of the land results in good air circulation as well as poor water retention forcing the vines to dig deep for its nutrition. The surface composed of the famous galets (fist sized rounded stones) that absorb heat during the day and lets it out at night. Combined with low yields, old vines, hand-harvested, destemmed and no filtration, it all adds up to a wine true to the famous rocky terroir and one of the most sought-after in all of France.
While most CdP producers have a high percentage of Grenache, Beaucastel is unique in the sense that they have the highest percentage of Mourvedre in their wines, usually equal parts of Grenache and Mourvedre (30% each). Always displaying fresh ripe fruit, complexity, structure and power, it has a distinctly earthy nose, full of expression and uniqueness. Ageworthy and highly collectible.
Please join fifth generation owner Thomas Perrin for a Top Drops: Chateau de Beaucastel evening of high-end wines on Wednesday, October 6 at 7pm at deVines.
View the lineup and sign up for this event here..
It will be Thomas’ second sitdown tasting with deVine, having been here for a memorable evening in November of 2006. This installment is not to be missed, as we will be featuring 5 vintages of the Beaucastel Rouge (including the legendary 1998 and soon to be legend 2007), and two vintages of their flagship cuvee, the Hommage à Jacques Perrin, a tribute to the man who started it all. Only 18 spots are available for this event and are selling fast.