Chateau de Beaucastel - Coudoulet de Beaucastel 2021 (750ml)

Chateau de Beaucastel Coudoulet Rouge 2021

Chateau de Beaucastel is unquestionably one of the top producers in the Southern Rhone. Their value wine, Coudoulet de Beaucastel is undoubtedly the best value from the Southern Rhone and could be the best value out there on red wine, period. The reason as to why is very straight forward. In the 1930s a road was built in the A.O.C., and as a result, the region was re-zoned. Everything to the east of the road was no longer considered part of Châteauneuf du Pape A.O.C. Coudoulet de Beaucastel is sourced from a 30-acre vineyard that fell just outside the zone, and the fruit from the vineyard could no longer be classified as Châteauneuf du Pape by law. For many years, this very fruit was being utilized by this historic winery's Châteauneuf du Pape bottlings. 

Winemaker Notes: Superb deep-ruby red color with purple reflections. The nose reveals a beautiful freshness and a seductive aromatic bouquet combining notes of red fruit, spices and white pepper with a hint of perfectly integrated toasted vanilla. Full bodied, greedy, very soft, the palate presents a very nice balance with freshness and aromas of black cherry jam. The finish is long with a beautiful aromatic intensity and velvety tannins. A wine of great elegance with good aging potential.

 

Very attractive red cherry fruit fills out the medium-bodied palate where the fine tannins underline this very well. Impressive length with plenty of licorice and a touch of candied citrus at the long, crisp and emphatically dry finish. A cuvee based on grenache and mourvedre. From organically grown grapes. Drink from release.

A terrific vintage for this wine, which was bottled just a couple of weeks prior to my late June visit, the 2021 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet de Beaucastel is a blend of 30% each Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, plus 10% Cinsault. From a vineyard just outside the boundaries of the appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it's a remarkably consistent wine and always a solid value. Scents of sunbaked stones, black cherries and licorice appear on the nose, joined by hints of purple raspberries and dark chocolate, while the medium to full-bodied palate is lush and velvety, finishing long and complex.