2023 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France (750ml)

Magnificent bright red color with carmine highlights. Powerful, generous and complex, the nose reveals a superb aromatic bouquet with aromas of black fruit, associated with notes of violet. Full bodied and silky, the mouth is dense, perfectly balanced by a beautiful freshness, and of a remarkable length. A refined and very harmonious wine, sign of great maturity. Generous in quality and in quantity, and of a great complexity.

Dense licorice and forest berry aromas mask the deep tannin structure of this Chateauneuf-du-Pape masterpiece. Full-bodied but with a lightness of touch. Then the power and stony intensity pour over you in a giant wave. The freshness is extraordinary for this hot and dry vintage. Serious tannins in the very long, compact and refined finish. From organically grown grapes.

- James Suckling, 97 pts. 

A tasting of the constituent parts this year, so this is a provisional score. The Terret Noir, Muscardin and Vaccarèse were fermented together; they provide the more fragrant top notes, bright and attractive if not deep. The Cinsault was perfumed and fresh, with fine tannins. The Counoise was more savoury, with more depth and tannin; tense and saline, and spicy thanks to 50% whole-bunch fermentation. The Grenache was soft and supple, fairly dark in colour, quite structured, with impressive freshness, tannins and acidity. The Syrah was deep, intense, black-fruited and peppery – quite potent in alcohol, with intense tannins. The Mourvèdre will be 30% of the blend, contributing mouthcoating, deep and succulent tannins, plenty of flesh and quite high alcohol.

- Decanter, 96 pts. 

The estate lost some Grenache due to shatter, so the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape is based on 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 10% Counoise, 10% Syrah, and the rest a mix of permitted varieties. It was all destemmed except for the Syrah and brought up in foudre. The higher Mourvèdre component gives it a more serious, focused style than most in the vintage, and it has darker blackberry fruits intermixed with roasted herbs, spring flowers, violets, and some meaty nuances on the nose. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a deep, pure, layered mouthfeel, it has ripe, velvety, yet building tannins and a great finish. Another beautiful vintage for this cuvée, it has the approachable style of the vintage yet brings more than enough density and concentration to evolve for 30 years.

- Jeb Dunnuck, 96 pts. 

César Perrin poured me various different samples to convey an approximate idea of what the final blend of the 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape will taste like. A foudre that blends 50% Grenache with the remainder equally divided between Counoise and Cinsaut showed subtle spice, licorice and forest strawberry alongside gentle tannins. Another sample mingling Terret Noir, Muscardin and Vaccarèse presented excellent freshness, while the subsequent single-varietal Grenache snippet was totally alluring. A Syrah portion that used 50% whole clusters during fermentation provided minty shadings, stemminess and, again, very smooth tannins. Finally, a single-varietal Mourvèdre sample brought structure and fleshiness to the table. All in all, readers can look forward to yet another outstanding red Beaucastel with the potential to match or even outperform the delicious 2022.
Barrel Sample: 93-95

- Vinous, 95 pts. 

As usual, the 2023 Chateauneuf du Pape from Château de Beaucastel was matured in foudres. Wafting from the glass with aromas of pepper, garrigue, dark berries and flowers, it’s medium- to full-bodied, round and sappy, with a layered core of fruit and a dense, precise mid-palate framed by velvety tannins, concluding with a firmer, gently spicy finish. Rating: 94+

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 pts.