2019 Château de Beaucastel Coudoulet Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge, Southern Rhone

An exceptional wine for this appellation, offering a beautiful red-fruit nose with overtones of summer flowers. Very pure and fresh for this very warm vintage, this not only has impressive concentration, but also excellent focus, thanks to the lively acidity. The tannin structure shows its hand at the long and remarkably complete finish for this appellation. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. 

94 points James Suckling Mar 2022 

Just across the appellation boundary from Châteauneuf-du-Pape lies Coudoulet de Beaucastel, the Perrin family's much admired Côtes du Rhône estate. Sharing the famous rounded stones and Mediterranean climate of its celebrated neighbour, Coudoulet has earned a reputation for wines that deliver remarkable character and ageing potential at a more approachable price. The outstanding 2019 vintage produced a particularly impressive red, with ripe fruit, fine structure and the savoury complexity that makes Beaucastel so distinctive.

A traditional blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault, the wine comes from organically farmed vineyards immediately east of Château de Beaucastel. The warm 2019 growing season produced beautifully concentrated fruit, balanced by the freshness and firm tannins that give Coudoulet its impressive ageing ability.

Deep ruby red with garnet highlights. Ripe blackberry, dark cherry and plum mingle with liquorice, black olive and fragrant thyme. The palate is rich and beautifully settled, with supple dark fruit, fine tannins and notes of earthy spice, leather and dried herbs. A long, savoury finish reveals the appealing complexity of a wine beginning to mature.

Try it with Greek lamb stifado, smoky lentils with roasted eggplant or duck with a black olive and orange sauce. Equally delicious with a rich mushroom and chestnut pie.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2033. Entering a lovely drinking phase, with further savoury complexity to develop over the coming years.