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Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
Château de Beaucastel has long been considered as one of the greatest wines in France. It is famously known for its elegance, balance and ageing potential. Beaucastel has an exceptional terroir at the northern limit of the appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, exposed to the mistral wind. All thirteen varieties of the appellation have been grown organically since the sixties.
Situation:Châteauneuf-du-Pape, between Orange and Avignon, Château de Beaucastel red is a 70-hectare vineyard.
Terroir:Château de Beaucastel is 70 hectares, in one single plot at the north of the appellation. The terroir is archetypal of the best terroirs in Châteuneuf: rolled pebbles on the surface, sand, clay and limestone deeper down. The vines are old and have been organically grown for over 50 years, which has allowed the roots to grow exceptionally deep.
Process:Each variety is harvested separately and manually. Vinification takes place in oak fermenters for the reductive varieties (Mourvèdre, Syrah) and in traditional enamelled concrete tanks for the oxydative grapes (all the others). Once the malolactic fermentation is finished, the Perrin family blends the different varieties. The blend is then aged in oak foudres for a year before bottling.
Grapes:Syrah Grenache Mourvèdre Cinsault Terret Noir Counoise Muscardin Vaccarese Clairette
Wine Information
In 2010 there was 20% more rainfall than average, therefore the vines did not suffer from hydric stress. Most of the rain fell at the beginning of the spring and caused a lot of shatter mainly on Grenache, explaining the smaller crops in this vintage.
After a cool and damp spring, the months of July and August were very hot with 55 days of temperatures exceeding 30°C (against 53 in 2005 and 34 in 2007) and very dry (one the driest summers since 1871). In August the nights became cooler and at the beginning of September we had plenty rainfall followed immediately by a few days of strong Mistral.
The beautiful weather carried on and turned into an Indian summer with very hot and windy days throughout September and October and cold nights. The large variations in temperatures between day and night allowed the grapes to reach perfect maturity but still preserving a good acidity level.
The cool spring and cold nights delayed the maturity of the grapes and harvest started fairly late and the weather conditions were perfect throughout harvest. The Indian summer allowed to reach maturity on late harvest varieties such as Mourvèdre and Counoise and to maintain a healthy crop.
The wines are concentrated with intense notes of fruit but they are also very balanced and extremely elegant. It is similar to vintages such as 1978.
