Chateau de Beaucastel 2021, Châteauneuf du Pape

£79.95 per bottle

ABV 14.5%

Colour: dark and deep ruby with purple undertones.

Nose: very rich in ripe black fruit, cherry, fig and slightly smoky.

Mouth: round and powerful, great balance between the tannins and the body, with notes of red fruit

The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape ratchets up the intensity from the Coudelet, adding more pronounced Mourvèdre-derived notes of truffle and tree bark to go with ripe black cherries and plums, crushed stone and hints of dark chocolate. Full-bodied in the mouth, with ample concentration and richness, this gently tannic wine finishes long and velvety, with echoes of licorice and dark fruit. It's a standout from a difficult vintage.
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Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, October 2023