97-pt Chateau Beaucastel Jacques Perrin DEBUT Release

Why Buy: Wine Spectator once declared Château Beaucastel "arguably the finest representation of the Southern Rhône's most prestigious appellation." And these 2021 releases (including a 97-point masterwork and a 96-point classic) demonstrate what makes this estate unique among Châteauneuf producers: though most of its competitors use only a handful of the 13 permitted grape varieties, Beaucastel — family-owned, and with roots stretching back to 1549 — makes use of all thirteen; and whereas Grenache tends to be predominant in most iterations of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, here Mourvèdre is given equal billing in the blend. The result? Wines of uncommon depth, density, and complexity. The Hommage à Jacques Perrin, produced only in exceptional vintages, represents the pinnacle of this philosophy – a rare and remarkable testament to what happens when five generations of winemaking wisdom meets some of Châteauneuf's oldest vines.

What They're Saying: The Wine Advocate lavished 97 points upon the 2021 Hommage à Jacques Perrin, celebrating this Mourvèdre-dominant blend as "another in a line of terrific wines”: “Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it's velvety but tannic, with enough structure and intensity on the lingering finish to expect at least two decades of cellaring potential (but probably more).” Decanter was similarly moved by the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, a "dense and deep” wine, it wrote in its 96-point rave, with "ripe, fine and plentiful" tannins, all "saturated in blackberry juice on a long finish." The magazine singled it out as "certainly one of the more successful Châteauneufs this year."

Our Tasting Notes: These wines are a fitting showcase of precisely why Beaucastel stands apart. The Hommage à Jacques Perrin demonstrates the profound potential of old-vine Mourvèdre, offering exceptional concentration without sacrificing finesse, with waves of black fruit and Mediterranean herbs giving way to subtle notes of leather and spice. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape reveals layers of dark fruit and spice, with that characteristic Beaucastel intensity balanced by remarkable freshness, finishing with hints of garrigue and black pepper. Both wines display the structural integrity and depth that have made this estate legendary.

The Story: Beaucastel's history stretches back to 1549, but its modern identity was forged in 1909 when the Perrin family took control. While others might have been content to follow tradition, Jacques Perrin saw possibilities others missed. When 90% of Châteauneuf plantings were Grenache, he championed Mourvèdre. When conventional farming was the norm, he embraced organic methods – in 1950! – and biodynamics by 1974. Today, the fifth generation continues his legacy, farming 110 acres of single-plot vineyard where 13 permitted grape varieties are harvested by hand, vinified separately in foudre, then carefully blended in a process that has been passed down, unaltered, through the generations.

What to Pair Them With: These wines call for dishes of sophistication and rusticity — an herb-crusted rack of lamb, a wild mushroom ragout, a duck or goose roasted with Provençal herbs.

Fun Fact: While most Châteauneuf producers lead with Grenache, Beaucastel has long defied convention by using equal proportions of Mourvèdre – a decision that seemed radical when Jacques Perrin initiated it, but has since proven prescient, as climate change pushes alcohol levels higher across the region.

Our Guarantee: Remember, friends – we always buy direct and we only source direct, so you can rest assured that your wine will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance.