2021 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Magnum 1.5L, Southern Rhone

Including more Mourvèdre than usual (40%), the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape sports a deep ruby/purple hue as well as an utterly classic Beaucastel nose of ripe red and blue fruits, spice, game, truffly earth, and ground pepper. Reminding me of the 2012, it's medium to full-bodied, has a layered, concentrated md-palate, sweet tannins, and a great finish.

One of the stalwarts of the appellation, Château de Beaucastel continues to produce an incredible array of wines from their estate in the northwestern edge of the appellation. Looking at the vintages reviewed here, the 2022s are ripe, sexy wines that bring to mind 2019 or even 2009. The whites are absolutely brilliant, and while only tasted from barrel, the 2022s will certainly be incredible wines. The 2021s also showed well and possess more depth and density than most in the vintage. In general, Mourvèdre seemed more challenging in 2021, but you certainly wouldn’t have that impression after tasting at Beaucastel. The closest comparison here for the 2021s would be the 2008s, which are balanced, elegant wines that are still drinking beautifully today. The 2021s should be a step up in quality, although I suspect they will evolve along a similar trajectory. Lastly, the estate is wrapping up a massive renovation of the cellar that was built with sustainability front and center and will be using an evaporative cooling mechanism with stored rainwater.

94 points Jeb Dunnuck

Château de Beaucastel is one of the great estates of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with the Perrin family producing some of the Southern Rhône's most distinctive and collectable wines. Renowned for its organic farming and use of all thirteen traditional grape varieties, Beaucastel has a character quite unlike its neighbours. The cooler 2021 vintage produced a particularly elegant expression, favouring fragrance, freshness and fine structure over sheer power.

Mourvèdre plays a leading role in the blend, alongside Grenache, Syrah and the other traditional varieties. The estate's famous rounded stones and varied soils contribute complexity, while the cooler growing season allowed the fruit to retain vibrant acidity and beautifully defined tannins.

Deep ruby red with garnet highlights. Red cherry, blackberry and ripe plum mingle with violet, lavender, cracked pepper and a hint of black olive. The palate is finely structured, with juicy red and dark fruit, fresh acidity and polished tannins. Notes of dried herbs, liquorice and gentle earthy spice carry through a long, fragrant finish. A wonderfully refined Beaucastel that should become increasingly complex with age.

Try it with duck and sour cherry sauce, roasted eggplant with spiced lentils and pomegranate, or slow cooked rabbit with olives and rosemary. Its elegant structure makes it particularly versatile at the table.

Cellaring: Drink 2027 to 2042+. The freshness and fine tannins of 2021 promise graceful development over the next two decades.