Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes Roussanne 2021
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Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
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Suckling
James -
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Robert -
Spectator
Wine
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
A magnificent deep and intense golden robe. Opulent and complex, the nose is particularly seductive, typical of this Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, with notes of honey, lightly stewed, very ripe fruit such as apricots, peaches and brioche. Very elegant on the palate, a delicate bitterness and a subtle salinity perfectly balances the richness, power and structure of Roussanne. This remarkably balanced wine reflects the perfect development of Roussanne on this exceptional terroir.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
In contrast, the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes (100% Roussanne) is brought up in all new oak, and it has a normal pH of 3.7 and an alcohol of 14.5%. (In comparison, the classic white has a pH of 3.6 and slightly less alcohol at 14%.) Rich, full-bodied, and opulent, it has a gorgeous perfume of caramelized white peach, acacia flowers, toasted spices, and orange blossom. One of the most powerful, concentrated whites in the vintage, its oak is perfectly integrated, it's flawlessly balanced, and as I've written in the past, it's the Montrachet of the Southern Rhône!
Barrel Sample: 96-99 -
Decanter
Great concentration this year, making for a really intense, sappy Roussanne; pear tarte tatin flavours, alongside the intense cigar tobacco, cedar and sandalwood. Dense and concentrated, it's weightier than the 2020 vintage, and riper and denser than most 2021 Châteauneuf blancs. Huge length. The oaking is robust, it shows quite strongly so give this time. All aged in oak, half new, half one-year-old, mostly demi-muids.
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James Suckling
It's really hard to do the aromas of this wine justice, such is their complexity, extending from the whole range of candied citrus through ripe apricot to dried thyme. Amazing mouthfeel, the creamy stony and delicately zesty aspects of the wine beautifully interwoven to create a ravishingly beautiful whole. In spite of the power this is light on its feet at the very long, refined finish. 100% roussanne from ancient vines. From organically grown grapes.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Caramel and honey notes add an extra layer of richness to the ripe pineapple and melon fruit in the 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes. Full-bodied and rich without seeming heavy, with a wonderfully long, silky finish. Barrel Sample: (95-97)
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Wine Spectator
This is more about subdued power and savory energy than flamboyancy. Offers yellow apple and glazed peach notes that are caressing in feel, with a gentle robe of warm oak and toasted hazelnut. Gains nice balance and energy from grapefruit pithiness. Well-melded and refined, with generous crushed flint elements on the long finish.
Other Vintages
2020- Decanter
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The first evidence of Château de Beaucastel as it exists today is in the sixteenth century. In 1909, Pierre Traminer bought the estate and then transferred it to his son-in-law Pierre Perrin, a scientist who further developed Beaucastel. His son, Jacques, continued his father’s efforts until 1978 and today, the torch is carried by Jacques’ sons, Jean-Pierre and François. They are joined by the fifth generation of Perrins—Marc, Pierre, Thomas, Cécile, Charles, Matthieu, and César.
The vineyards of Château de Beaucastel are located on historic land where each of the 13 approved grapes varietals of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation are planted. The art of blending these 13 grapes has been passed down from one generation to the next. Beaucastel is, first of all, a family story, the story of Famille Perrin. Their main strength is being able to blend the talents of each family member to run the wine estate under common values: absolute respect for land and terroir; biodynamic culture as a philosophy of life; and the research of truth, balance, and elegance.
Full and silky in body but also charmingly crisp, Roussanne is native to the Rhône Valley of France. It is responsible for some of the finest Northern Rhône white wines. Roussanne adds richness and acidity to Marsanne’s soft, fruitiness, making age worthy and highly respected whites. Somm Secret—Roussanne takes its name from the French word, roux, meaning rouge or red because of the berry’s pink glow. In California, virtually all of the 339 acres of Roussanne come from true clones brought over by Tablas Creek and John Alban.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.