I am delighted to announce our Rhône 2020 En Primeur campaign is underway with the release of one the region's iconic wines: Château de Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2020.
Winemaker Marc Perrin summarised the vintage as "one of the all-time classics; the wines have superb intensity, wonderful poise, finesse and elegance." He went on to say that Southern Rhône was favoured by very good weather conditions, and is a generous vintage, both in terms of quality and quantity. The season was not as hot as 2019; helped by winds throughout the growing cycle, as well as light rainfall from time to time. Winter was fairly mild with just one single bout of frost toward the end of March.
In May, flowering began in very healthy conditions, and the good weather continued into June, July and August with plenty of heat, tempered by cool nights and regulating effects of the iconic Mistral wind. Harvest started on 26th August for white Côtes du Rhône, finishing with Mourvèdre coming in last at the end of September. It was warm at the beginning of September, with cooler, more idyllic conditions arriving when each plot was harvested at perfect maturity and resulted in juicy and ripe grapes with reasonable alcohol levels, good acidity and great balance.
When asked which vintages were similar, Marc referenced the greats of 1990 and 2010, noting that the wines will be enjoyable in their youth and also be great keepers.
Vinsobres 'Les Cornuds' Rouge 2020 | £85.00 IB (12x75cl)
"Deep crimson. More like the Vacqueyras on the nose, that sweet oak and chocolate impression. More red-fruited aroma than the preceding wines. Prettily peppered and sweet spice. On the palate, the tannins are more prominent, more powdery, undermining that sweetness in a good way, bringing the wine to a drier and more elegant and fragrant finish. Still quite chewy but all set for harmony." Drink 2024-2030. 16.5/20 points. Julia Harding MW (jancisrobinson.com)
"Abundance of cranberry as well as red and black with undertones of violet and mocha spice. Round and luscious with fine, yet firm tannins and layers of intertwined dark black and bramble fruits and underlying white pepper spice and dark chocolate." Drink 2023-2029. James Goodhart
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Vacqueyras 'Les Christins' Rouge 2020 | £110.00 IB (12x75cl)
"Very deep cherry red. Smells much sweeter than the Cairanne, more sweetly oaky and chocolatey. Tannins are thicker too, even if they are polished smooth, with a more abrupt finish. Finishes sweetly." Drink 2022-2028. 16/20 points. Julia Harding MW (jancisrobinson.com)
"Bright aromas of blackcurrant, black plum and black cherry fused with floral notes of iris and violet. Ripe, round and forward on the mid-palate with silky, smooth tannins that wrap around a core of further dark black fruit and lashings of liqourice spice and toasted oak." Drink 2023-2028. James Goodhart
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Gigondas 'La Gille' Rouge 2020 | £145.00 IB (12x75cl)
"Velvet-looking crimson. Pure, intense, mulberry-rich fruit. Smells both ripe and fresh and attractively earthy. Fine tension on the palate, the tannins very fine, finely layered so that are rounded but nicely dry on the finish." Drink 2024–2032. 17/20 points. Julia Harding MW (jancisrobinson.com)
"Attractive aromas of black plum and Morello cherry with underlying notes of strawberry and damson. Juicy and plump on the palate with ripe, fine tannins that flow through into a dark black fruit-tinged finish." Drink 2025-2032. James Goodhart
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Châteauneuf-du-Pape 'Les Sinards' Rouge 2020 | £240.00 IB (12x75cl)
"Mid to deep crimson. Scented with both red and black fruit. Peppery, beautifully fragrant. Generous fruit in an elegant framework. Freshness takes the wine to a long finish." Drink 2024–2032. 16.5/20 points. Julia Harding MW (jancisrobinson.com)
"Brooding, complex nose of blackcurrant, cassis with added black plum and black cherry. Excellent structure and power, yet refined and elegant due to impressive energy and fruit purity. Abundance of dark black fruit and black pepper spice." Drink 2028-2036. James Goodhart
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Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2020
£145.00 IB (12x75cl)
£150.00 IB (6x150cl) MAGS
"Immediately more scented than some of the intense Famille Perrin range, with fragrant black-cherry fruit and a light herbal quality, as if there were some whole bunch (though I don't think there was). A hint of violets. On the palate, refined tannins, juicy, fresh, moreish." Drink 2023–2028. 16.5/ 20 points. Julia Harding MW (jancisrobinson.com)
"Charming nose of bramble and apple crumble with deft touches of violet. Wow - luscious, velvety and seductive on the mid-palate with silky, rounded tannins that coat the mouth and fuse with excellent tension and core of further blackcurrant, cassis and mocha spice. Very good indeed." Drink 2025-2035. James Goodhart
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Château de Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2020
£280.00 IB (6x75cl)
£560.00 IB (6x150cl) MAGS
£200.00 IB (1x300cl) D.MAG
"Deep crimson. Fabulously aromatic with an intense and entwined combination of dark-red fruits, peony (which I more often associate with the northern Rhône), and a light sweetness of oak spice. Also a quiet, dark mineral/dusty quality that reins in all that lovely fruit. Compact but succulent, refined tannins. Already quite complex and a lot more to come. Fresh, elegant finish. Embryonically impressive." Drink 2025–2035. 17.5/20 points. Julia Harding MW (jancisrobinson.com)
"Forward, ripe nose of black cherry and blackcurrant nose with delicate hints of liqourice. Impressive power and structure with a multi-layered core of blackcurrant fused with mocha and cinnamon spice. Seamless on the mid-palate with a long, spice-infused finish (touch of white pepper). Bravo!" Drink 2026-2038. James Goodhart
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Please note prices quoted are per case (as stated) In Bond, and exclude UK Duty, VAT and delivery charges. The wine is due to arrive in our bonded warehouse in November 2022.
