Beaucastel CNdP

[Peter Creasey]

Our daughter is in from London so I let her pick any wine from the inventory. She chose Beaucastel and told me to pick the vintage. I went for an old favorite.

Ch Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape '90 -- Medium red with slightest edge fade, complex aromas of leather/meat/red fruits/farminess/and who knows what else, still full and round on palate, tannins smoothly evolved, earth, rusticity, and so much more. An exquisite sampling from a bottle that, unlike some bottles, probably is at its peak. [E - O]

Perfect accompaniment with grilled prime strip steak and vegetables.

. . . . Pete

 

[Peter Creasey]

And now its exalted sibling...

Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape '89 -- Medium red, lots of sediment, excellent still-complex bouquet, herbs, soft fruits, tinge of horse hide, moderately full, tannins evolved, persistent soft fruits, smooth and delicious, stayed well in the glass, at or near peak. A long-time favorite wine that lived up to its exalted standards. [E+]

Worked well with filet and dark mushrooms/sauce, sweet potato fries, and chocolate chip cookie with blueberries.

. . . . . Pete

 

[Mark Anisman]

you were lucky. the 1990 bottle we opened in the spring was horribly bretty. i would gladly sell any i had, but it was an offering from a friend. others loved it for the brettiness.

 

[Peter Creasey]

originally posted by Mark Anisman: i would gladly sell any i had.

Mark, sounds like it had questionable provenance. The '89s and '90s do have a reputation of being variable, but not to the extent that you mention.

If you have some you want to sell, please PM me the particulars as I'm interested.

. . . . . . . Pete

 

[robert ames]

"leather/meat/red fruits/farminess/and who knows what else"

i happen to find brett enjoyable unless it really kills everything else.

this sounds both fine and bretty to me. leather? farminess? this does not come from the grape.

any questions?

 

[Mark Anisman]

provenance was a bought on release wine by my friend and held in a temperature controlled cellar. he liked the wine, as did others, so i am sure he would not wish to sell. certainly could be a one off as brett can take over some bottles but other bottles are spared.
Marico and I have catholic tastes (despite her being Buddhist), and the brett certainly to our taste was the prominent flavor component and thus accelerated its' journey to the loss column. we did not finish the glass (it did indeed kill everything else) as there was also many other good wines for sampling.
but again, others enjoyed. my cynical take is that sometimes people like a wine because it sticks out and initially is thought of as being unique. i think drinking a beverage like this becomes tiresome, much like over oaked wines and way too hoppy ipa beers.

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Mark Anisman:
i think drinking a beverage like this becomes tiresome, much like over oaked wines and way too hoppy ipa beers.

Completely agree. One note is not enough, Johnny.

 

[Peter Creasey]

Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape '01 -- Nice ruby red, lots of sediment, clean bouquet, miscellaneous fruits, so smooth and silky and rich, even a touch of sweetness, complex, well integrated,
altogether a beautiful wine showing so well. [E]

Ideal pairing with kofta kebab, fried egg plant, collard greens...then chocolate/cinnamon cookie.

. . . . . Pete

 

[Peter Creasey]

Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape '01 -- Nice ruby red, lots of sediment, clean bouquet, miscellaneous fruits, so smooth and silky and rich, even a touch of sweetness, complex, well integrated,
altogether a beautiful wine showing so well. [E]

Ideal pairing with kofta kebab, fried egg plant, collard greens...then chocolate/cinnamon cookie.

. . . . . Pete

 

[Peter Creasey]

Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape '90 -- Lots of sediment, good color, luscious bouquet that's quite clean, rich fruit, smooth on palate but still with texture and structure, almost Burgundian nuances, absolutely delicious, this bottle seems to be at peak. [E - O]

Worked just fine with lamb stew, then pecan pie cookies.

. . . . . . Pete

 

[Peter Creasey]

The other night I pulled a Beaucastel CNdP bottle from a vintage (2009) I did not have high expectations for. Little did I know. I was a bit awe-struck how good it was -- pure elixir. Sampled too long ago for tasting notes, but it "performed" shiningly in high style.

Really fine at this time but absolutely no rush to enjoy. Built for the long haul.

. . . . Pete

 

[Mark Anisman]

we had a 1990 Beaucastel back in spring 2022. it was horrifically marred by brett. and as you would expect, some of the attendees plumped for that wine as their fave... different strokes indeed....

 

[Peter Creasey]

Mark, no question. Different people have different tolerances for things like TCA, Brett, and the like. Moreover, different bottles can have very different attributes arising from various factors e.g. provenance, serving temperature, aeration, etc.

. . . . . . Pete

 

[Peter Creasey]

Always a treat in our household...

Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape '04 -- Pristine cork, dark red, dark fruits, herbal spiciness, full and vibrant, flavorful complexity, well composed and in balance, youthful profile but nicely approachable, long. [E]

Worked well with grilled burger on a Caesar salad, sweet potato fries, then pecan pie.

. . . . . . Pete