Following on from our Vieux Telegraphe 2014 offer, we are delighted to be able to offer the new release of exceptional Chateauneuf du Pape giant, Beaucastel. Today’s en primeur release represents superb value for money and provides a real incentive to buy on release. In fact today’s special offer price is 30% lower than the current price of the 2011, 2012 and 2013’s current trading prices. Moreover, the vintage has lower yields, Beaucastel, in particular has reduced its yields by 40%, reducing their average of 8000 cases to 4,800. Considering the limited production in 2014 and average trading price of similar vintages, the price will adjust quickly. In 2014 Beaucastel has been awarded 92-94 points from the Wine Advocate, a score that could put it on par with the superb 2009, once it is tasted from bottle.
The 2014 vintage was cooler in the Southern Rhone than average, a region known for being extremely hot during the summer. This delayed vine growth and grape maturation, meant that the grapes were given a longer hang-time, achieving full phenolic maturity but with silky texture and soft tannin. The wines are also on average 1% lower in alcohol, adding harmony and balance, while not losing any perennial features that make this Chateauneuf du Pape great. The vintage is one of elegance, with a distinctive texture, balance and minerality.
| Vintage | Score | Price |
| 2014 | 92-94 | £180 |
| 2013 | 93 | £210 |
| 2012 | 96 | £210 |
| 2011 | 94 | £225 |
| 2010 | 95 | £235 |
| 2009 | 94 | £220 |
| 2008 | 90 | £200 |
| 2007 | 96 | £250 |
Beaucastel is the most famous wine from Chateauneuf du Pape and one of its oldest estates, dating back to 1549. Beaucastel Rouge is a heady mix of the famous CNDP grapes, 30% Mouvedre, 30% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise and 5% Cinsault, balanced with other varietals. Their Mouvedre is grown on almost one third of their land and is arguably the best example of this grape anywhere in the world. The vineyard is situated at the north-eastern end of the appellation, a short walk from the famous town of Orange. The Estate has remarkable terroir, abounded by rolling pebbles on the surface, the subsoil contains an abundance of clay, which perfectly retains the vines’ water supply during the long hot summer days.
The Estate was transformed in 1903 by a young chemical engineer named Pierre Perrin, who with his father-in-law returned it to past glories after the region was atrophied by phylloxera. Jacques Perrin drove it forward in the 1950s by introducing new technologies and innovations. Today the vineyard continues to be treated with wonderful care: minimal sulphur is permitted and no chemical fertilizers or weed killers are used. They vinify in large old barrels (foudres) and only the Syrah is exposed to new oak. The Estate has a bright future as Jacques’ sons Jean-Pierre Perrin and François Perrin continue to balance tradition with innovation.
Jeb Dunnuck, 92-94 Pts
Not yet bottled, the 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape is one of the few inky colored wines in the vintage. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and ripe with notable tannin, it offers beautiful notes of blackberry, shitake mushrooms, licorice and pepper meats. It plays in the 2014 vintage’s forward, supple nature, but has real depth and concentration. I don’t think it will be the longest lived Beaucastel, but it will have 15-20 years of overall longevity.
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