Chateau de Beaucastel Rouge, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2022

Dark and inky in colour this year. It’s fresh in its berry fruits, really quite powerful, with muscular tannins and driving acidity behind. A dense, dark and brooding vintage of Beaucastel. The aromatic precision however is extremely impressive: elderberry, sloe and blackberry. It’s solid and will age well. Do not drink this young, as it will likely disappoint if opened too early. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudres. Syrah and Counoise are whole bunch fermented.

The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape is some serious Provençal goodness, with just about overflowing aromas and flavors of sweet raspberries, blackberries, peppery garrigue, and Provençal spices. It has the sunny, expressive, complex style of the vintage, medium to full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, and a great finish. As with most 2022s, it has plenty of upfront charm yet solid underlying tannins as well. It reminds me slightly of the 2009 and will have two decades of longevity.

Intense orange rind, forest strawberry, melted licorice, black cherry and spice box introduce the delicious 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Since I last tasted it from barrel, the 2022 has mellowed significantly, now packing ripe and refined tannins that provide solid yet gentle structure to this full-bodied, finessed red Beaucastel. Finishing focused and long, this comes highly recommended.