1994 Chateau de Beaucastel, Grand Cuvée Hommage à Jacques Perrin - Châteauneuf-du-Pape - 1 Garrafa (0,75 L)

Château de Beaucastel is a wine producer based in Courthézon, in the northern Châteauneuf-du-Pape region of the southern Rhône. It makes some of the most famous wines in the whole of the Rhône Valley, from a classic southern Rhône blend that includes Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, as well as the lesser-known Counoise and Cinsaut varieties.

The estate reportedly dates back to 1549 when Pierre de Beaucastel bought a barn and a plot of vineyards in the region and inscribed his family's crest onto the walls. The land passed through the family until 1909, when it came under control of scientist Pierre Perrin.

Today, Perrin's grandsons Jean-Pierre and François run the estate.

The château is located in the northeast corner of the appellation, just southeast of the city of Orange. There are around 100 hectares (250 acres) planted to vine, three-quarters of which is used to make the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC wines.


The vineyards on the estate | ©Château de Beaucastel / Les Vins Perrin et Fils
Château de Beaucastel has all 13 of the permitted grape varieties for Châteauneuf-du-Pape planted in the vineyard (Bourboulenc; Brun Argenté/Vaccarèse; Cinsault; Clairette Blanc and Rose; Counoise; Grenache Blanc, Gris and Noir; Mourvèdre; Muscardin; Picardan; Piquepoul Blanc Gris and Noir; Roussanne; Syrah; and Terret Noir), giving the winemaking team a choice of fruit at harvest.

The vines, which are up to 50 years old, are planted on a combination of sandstone, rocks and limestone, which drain freely, helping the vines produce concentrated berries.


The cellar at Château de Beaucastel | ©Château de Beaucastel / Les Vins Perrin et Fils
The grapes are hand-picked and are vinified in lots to provide consistency for blending, and oak is used sparingly. Château de Beaucastel's flagship Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine is predominantly made from Grenache and Mourvèdre, with a range of other grape varieties, including a portion of white grapes.

There is also a Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc, which is made predominantly from Roussanne with Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc. Château de Beaucastel also makes a varietal Roussanne, and a Mourvèdre-based red wine called Hommage à Jacques Perrin in honor of the current proprietors' father.

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