CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL CÔTES DU RHÔNE COUDOULET ROUGE 2019

AOC Côtes du Rhône, Vallée du Rhône, France

Tasting notes:
Superb deep colour. The complex nose offers notes of ripe fruit, spices and flowers. Full bodied and balanced, the palate is very delicate with magnificent aromas of cherries, plums and liquorice and a long finish.

The wine:
The 30 hectares of Coudoulet are located just east of the vineyard of Beaucastel on the other side of the A7 motorway. For reasons that have now become obvious, Coudoulet is often considered the baby Beaucastel. The Coudoulet soil has many similarities to that of Beaucastel. It is made out of Molasse seabed covered by diluvial alpine deposits. These pebbles called “Galets Roulés” play a big role: They take in the heat during the day and let it if off slowly at night which gives a good start to the vines in the Spring.

The vintage:
The years in 9 regularly mark the memory of winegrowers and this vintage was no exception. After an early bud burst in early April, flowering was gradual and took place in good conditions in all the vineyards. Then a hot summer began in late June, which the vines bravely resisted: they suffered little from water stress, thanks to the chamomile herbal infusions we sprayed on the vegetation to cope with the heat. Finally, the harvest went as usual, without any particular precocity. The wines are promising; a vintage in 9 is born, once again, under a lucky star.

Location:
30 hectares in Côtes-du-Rhône.

Terroir:
Molasse seabed of the Miocene period covered by diluvial alpine deposits (rolled pebbles), identical to the vineyard of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Ageing:
Each variety is harvested manually and separately, then sorted in the cellar. The harvest is heated to 80°C (skins) and then cooled down to 20°C. Classic maceration occurs in cement tanks for 12 days. Pressing in pneumatic presses. Blending of the different varietals after malolactic fermentation. Ageing in Oak Foudres for 6 months.

Cépages:
Grenache : 40%
Mourvèdre : 30%
Syrah : 20%
Cinsault : 10%

"A well-balanced, perfectly ripe, very fresh expression this year. Fine tannins, with good grip, harmonious acidity and dark streak of concentrated fruit into the finish. You'll be glad you bought some of this. Not hugely deep or hugely complex, but beautifully balanced. 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 10% Vaccarèse/Terret Noir/Muscardin, 3% Cinsault, 7% white varieties. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudre."

Decanter Note : 92/100 - 2020-10-05

"Bottled just a month before this tasting, the 2019 Côtes Du Rhône Coudoulet De Beaucastel is showing brilliantly, with a rich, medium to full-bodied, textured style that displays the ripe, sexy style of the vintage. Offering lots of both black and blue fruits as well as truffly earth and garrigue notes, it can be enjoyed any time over the coming 10-12 years."

Jeb Dunnuck Note : 92/100 - 2021-11-03

"Solidly built, with a core of dark plum, fig and black licorice notes that meld together, while warm earth and a swath of tobacco move in on the finish. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault."

Wine Spectator Note : 91/100 - 2022-01-01