Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2016

Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016 is a monumental, extraordinarily complex, and benchmark southern Rhône red wine crafted by the Perrin family at their legendary estate in Courthézon. Hailed as one of the finest modern vintages in the region's history, the 2016 growing season provided optimal climatic conditions that allowed all thirteen permitted grape varieties to achieve flawless phenolic maturation and concentration. Sourced from organically and biodynamically farmed vineyards rooted in quartzite rolled pebbles (galets roulés), molasses, and porous sandstone, each variety was vinified separately following brief flash-heating before undergoing traditional fermentation and aging for one year in large neutral oak foudres. In the glass, it displays an opaque, saturated dark garnet-purple core. The bouquet is remarkably deep and kaleidoscopic, revealing aromas of ripe cassis, black raspberries, dark cherries, and wild plums, intricately interwoven with notes of garrigue herbs, cracked black pepper, smoked meats, black truffle, dried violets, and warm stones. On the palate, it delivers a full-bodied, multi-dimensional presence marked by super-silky, fine-grained tannins, vibrant natural freshness, and a seamless, extraordinarily persistent finish built for decades of cellaring.

Food Pairing: Roasted rack of lamb with rosemary, slow-braised wild boar stew, roasted venison loin, grilled prime ribeye, or aged Comté cheese.

99 Points - James Suckling

This is a stunning Beaucastel. A classic! Has a superb array of fruit, ranging from red, through to blue, darker purple and black. Nuances of dark, stony minerals, spices, wild flowers and herbs. So fleshy. This has impeccable balance, super-silky tannins and an extraordinarily long finish. This has decades ahead of it. Drink or hold.

97 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Bottled only a week before my visit, I was blown away by how well Beaucastel's 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape was showing. It's full-bodied, creamy, lush and rich, with layers of raspberry fruit, garrigue and spice that unfold across a seamless palate. No doubt it will go through cycles of being open and closed throughout its lifespan, but it would be a mistake to simply order a case, put it into storage and forget about it without trying one first and swooning over the sheer lusciousness and youthful complexity.

97 Points - Wine Spectator

Youthfully reticent, but warm and polished in feel, with a large core of cassis, raspberry and cherry puree notes lying in wait for now. Threads of red licorice, warm stone and singed mesquite and cedar emerge steadily through the lengthy finish as the fruit unwinds slowly. Concentrated yet precise. Sock this away in the cellar. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Counoise. Best from 2023 through 2040.