2004 Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape

Regular price $169.98

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94 Wine Advocate - Showing brilliantly, with a deep, rich and layered profile, the straight 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape has gorgeous black cherry, earth, underbrush and background meatiness that gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated and pure feel on the palate. A foudre-aged blend of 30% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault, with the balance a mix of the other permitted varieties, this knockout Chateauneuf du Pape will have another 10-15 years of prime drinking.

The 2004 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a terrific example of old-school Beaucastel—savory, structured and Mourvèdre-driven rather than simply plush and Grenache-sweet. The final blend was approximately 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, with the balance comprising the other traditional permitted varieties, aged in large foudres. That unusually high Mourvèdre component is central to Beaucastel's distinctive personality and longevity.

The profile: black cherry, raspberry and plum are now moving toward dried cherry, leather, truffle, smoked meat, licorice, anise, pepper and Provençal herbs, with that classic Beaucastel combination of earth, game and garrigue. There's still considerable fruit underneath, but this isn't a glossy, sweet Châteauneuf. It's savory, earthy and slightly feral, with good acidity and a firm mineral/tannic backbone. Contemporary reviews emphasized its remarkable combination of power and finesse, while later tastings found it still surprisingly concentrated and youthful.

Classic Beaucastel—not a fruit bomb. Black cherry and kirsch wrapped around smoked meat, truffle, leather, licorice and wild Provençal herbs. Powerful but beautifully mature, savory and sophisticated. This is Châteauneuf for people who like their Rhône with a little dirt under its fingernails.

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