One must consider Chateau de Beaucastel as
the greatest of the southern Rhone producers
as it makes four outstanding wines. The
regular Chateauneuf-du-Pape rouge and special ‘Hommage à Jacques Perrin’ it is
said owe their concentration, depth and longevity to the high proportion of
Mourvedre in the blend. Similarly, the
quality of the regular Chateauneuf-du-Pape blanc and special ‘Vieilles Vignes’
is attributed to the influence of Roussanne.
The ‘Vieilles Vignes’ is indeed a unique wine, made from 100% Roussanne
vines 75+ years old from a 3 ha plot, and 50% of the wine aged for 8 months in
once used oak. No more than 500 cases
are made annually.
Our experience shows the wine to have great power,
concentration and density, the powerful stonefruit, nutty and toasty flavours
backed by phenolic grip and extract, providing the potential to develop for a
decade. Here’s
what Robert Parker Jr says of the 2007 Chateau de Beaucastel
Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc ‘Vieilles Vignes’ in The Wine Advocate No. 185,
October 2009: “[This wine] could be called
the ‘Montrachet’ of southern France. A
wine of great intensity, it boasts thrilling aromas of orange marmalade,
nectarine liqueur, honeysuckle, peaches, and apricots. Stunningly rich with full body, terrific
acidity, and a finish that lasts 45+ seconds, this is an amazing achievement. It should drink well for 7-8 years, shut down
or become oxidized, then, hopefully, re-emerge at around age 12-15, and drink
in a completely different fashion for several decades thereafter.” 97 points.
A minuscule allocation comes to this country annually,
and we give notice of its availability.
First-in, first served.