Château de Beaucastel 2020

Showing a stunning combination of power and grace, this is just entering its prime. Boasts beautifully integrated layers of red plum, crunchy cherry and dusty thyme, melded with finely crushed graphite and a sultry waft of incense and apple wood smoke. Pleasingly chewy, with tannins holding firm and a cool menthol note on the mineral-rich finish. Large in scale and complex, there's nothing heavy-handed about this wine. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret Blanc, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul de Pinet, Bourboulenc, Picardan and Roussanne. Drink now through 2036. 3,540 cases made, 3,250 cases imported.

Fresh and bright nose, then a palate with exceptionally smooth and fine tannins, lovely acidity and notes of blackberry and raspberry juice. Particularly fine, elegant and balanced this year. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudre.

The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape displays pronounced aromas of ripe forest strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, mint, cured meat, dried herbs and hints of tobacco. On the palate it is full-bodied, concentrated, muscular and framed by polished tannins. Lively acids perfectly balance it, ending with excellent persistence on the savory finish. Producing this high level of quality with a whopping 180,000 bottles is remarkable in the context of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Medium-bodied, fresh, meaty and spicy with a strong sense of pepper and garrigue, fresh, soft and vibrant, the wine will drink well fairly early for Beaucastel due to its freshness, balance and ripe, soft tannins. The wine blends 30% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache with the remainder blend coming from all the other assorted red and white grape varieties. Drink from 2024-2040.

Deep garnet, purple reflections, subtle ochre brightening on the rim. Delicate herbal savouriness, black cherries, a touch of tobacco and liquorice, candied orange zest in the underlay. Juicy red berries, freshly structured with fine ripe tannins, mineral and long-lasting. A fruity nuance on the finish, a perfect representative of the vintage.

Now from bottle, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape shows the supple, layered style of the vintage. Red and black fruits, leafy herbs, spring flowers, spice, and some meaty notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a supple, layered mouthfeel and ripe, almost velvety tannins.