Perrin Chateau De Beaucastel 2004

Château de Beaucastel has long been considered one of the great wines of France. It is unanimously renowned for its balance, elegance and ageing potential. Beaucastel has an extraordinary terroir at the Northern end of the appellation with heavy exposure to the Mistral. All 13 varieties of the appellation have been organically grown here since the sixties. An exceptional vintage, very small production because of the 2003 impact and severe mistral for 9 days at 70km/h. High pressure and great weather guaranteed no rain. Each variety is harvested manually and separately. Vinification is completed in truncated oak barrels for the reductive grapes (Mourvèdre and Syrah) and in traditional tiled cement tanks for the oxidative grapes (such as Grenache). After the malolactic fermentations, the family blends the different varieties and then the wine ages in oak Foudres for a year before being bottled. The colour is bright with no sign of ageing. The nose is quite discreet but very elegant and suave, with notes of bread loaf and anise. The mouth is very well balanced, nearly sweet with red fruit and liquorish, no harshness to it at all. This wine can be drunk while its young and fresh but deserves to be cellared for a few years to gain in complexity. 96 Points - Wine Spectator