Chateauneuf du Pape

The premier estate of Chateauneuf du Pape, Chateau de Beaucastel nevertheless bucks many of the trends associated with the appellation. Chiefly, it plants every single one of the thirteen grape varieties allowed under regulations. Whilst Grenache is the main focus for other estates, with some attention paid to other major varieties, Beaucastel makes much use of Mourvedre—to the extent that it makes up the same proportion as Grenache in the final blend.

The ground at Beaucastel is marked by the violence wrought by the Rhone river. It consists of a layer of marine molasses (sandstone) of the Miocene period, covered by alpine alluvium. The presence in this topsoil of a great number of rounded stones, known as "galets", bears evidence of the time when the Rhone, then a torrent, tore fragments of rock from the Alps and deposited them along its course. These “galets” actively contribute to the wine’s quality: They retain the heat of the day and radiate it out to the vines during the night.

Run by the Perinn brothers, the estate’s thirteen varieties are harvested and vinified separately. Syrah is the only grape that enjoys new oak, with the rest being stored in mature barrels in the cellars.

The grand vin is the appropriately named Chateau de Beaucastel, which is easily the most important wine produced by the estate. With only 25,000 cases available per annum, it’s also notoriously difficult to get hold of. The most sought after of the second wines is Hommage a Jacques Perrin, which is very Mourvedre heavy. As opposed to standard Bordeaux procedure, this second wine is only produced during the finest vintages. There are also two white cuvees from the estate, both based on Roussanne, which are bottled under the general Chateauneuf du Pape AC.