| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Rhône > Southern Rhône > Châteauneuf-du-Pape |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Very dense black-fruit aromas, but also licorice, an entire microcosm of spice and a whiff of smoked bacon. Very dense and meaty with an incredible tannin structure that enables this to be simultaneously very big and elegant. Super-long finish with enormous mineral freshness. Drink or hold.
Beaucastel's 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape is shaping up as a blend of 30% each Grenache and Mourvèdre, with 10% each Counoise and Syrah, plus 20% other permitted varieties, including a healthy proportion of white grapes. Complex and red-fruited, with hints of flowers and garrigue, it's expansive and richly textured on the palate, finishing long and silky. 2023-2037.
Now from bottle, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape shows the supple, layered style of the vintage. Red and black fruits, leafy herbs, spring flowers, spice, and some meaty notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a supple, layered mouthfeel and ripe, almost velvety tannins.
Fairly deep and still with tinges of purple in the glass, the nose brings the combination of dark and red fruits, white pepper, woody provençal herbs and just a touch of kirsch. It couldn't be from anywhere else. The palate is intense but not overdone. At a time when Châteauneuf can be limited by its excess, this has everything in the right place. It is ripe, but measured, with tannins folded over sweet notes of blackberry, raspberry and cherry. Lightly peppery with more of that garigue hit, it knits together very well with an underlying structure and depth that gives a very long finish. A wine with a genuine sense of place. It should really hit its stride from 10 years old.
The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape has lots of Mourvèdre character in its bright red and blue fruits as well as spice, pepper, and assorted meaty nuances. With medium to full-bodied richness on the palate, it shows the fresh, elegant, yet still nicely concentrated style of the vintage and is unquestionably another impressive, classic vintage for this cuvée. It should offer some pleasure in its youth as well as evolve for 20+ years in cold cellars.
Deep ruby colour. Full of raspberry, strawberry and darker blackberry fruit on the nose. Underneath, there are hints of garrigue, white pepper, and the slightest hint of earthy spices. The palate is silky yet robust. Fine, ripe but persistent tannins are mouthcoating but matched by powerful fruit. Full bodied, yet incredibly refined, the flesh here is always carefully considered and precise. Layered and expansive at the finish, there is great promise from this new iteration of Beaucastel.
