Brand: Chateau de Beaucastel
Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Vintage: 2010
Rating: 96
Stunning nose, in which deep red-fruit character is married to meaty, spicy and caramel aromas. Powerful and very well structured, the tannins still very present, but the overwhelming impression is of elegance. Very long, dry finish with plenty of stony minerality. Gives a very good idea of the direction that the best 2020s will take. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. (James Suckling, 96)
Interestingly enough, even though many of the 2010 Perrin et Fils selections from the southern Rhone were scheduled to be bottled right after my visit, the 2010 Beaucastel had already been put in bottle. This is a gorgeous wine, a classic blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise and the balance the other permitted varietals in the appellation. Deep purple, with loads of bouquet garni, beef blood, blackberry, kirsch, smoke and truffle, this wine is full-bodied, rich and showing even better than it did last year. I still think it needs 3-5 years of cellaring, and it should last for 25-30 years, as most of the top vintages of Beaucastel do. (Wine Advocate, 95)