Chateau De Beaucastel Chateauneuf Du Pape 2018 750ml

The 2018 Chateau de Beaucastel red has an elegant deep ruby-red colour. The powerful and elegant nose offers superb notes of spices, cherries and cocoa. Elegantly and perfectly balanced, the mouth reveals a beautiful dense structure with fine tannins and complex aromas of red fruit such as blackcurrants and floral notes. The finish is very long and harmonious. A very sophisticated wine, signature of Beaucastel’s style.

At the moment, Beaucastel’s 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape bucks the vintage trend toward open, expressive wines, seeming a bit closed on the nose and tight on the palate. It also shows a bit more depth and tannin than many of its peers. A blend of 30% each Grenache and Mourvèdre, with 15% Syrah, 10% Counoise and smaller amounts of other permitted varieties (including some white grapes), it delivers hints of mixed red berries and garrigue, a medium to full-bodied feel in the mouth, some dusty tannins and a long, mouthwatering finish. Give it another couple of years to soften and reopen, then drink it over the next decade and a half. 95 pts RP

Very rich aromas of blackberries, chocolate and crushed stones. Some cloves and black pepper, too. Medium-bodied with round, juicy tannins that are soft, polished and nicely integrated into the wine. Delicious finish. Very drinkable now, but will improve with age. 94 pts JS