1989 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rhône France Wine Tasting Note

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1989
96
Not the most consistent bottle on the planet, but then you probably knew that already. This bottle was a beauty. Silky in texture, with a purity to the kirsch and cherries that were surrounded by loads of pepper, spice, tobacco, earth and herbs. Purchased on release, this was the best bottle of this wine I have had in a while. I would not hold it for further development. If you have a bottle, pop a cork.

Not the most consistent bottle on the planet, but then you probably knew that already. This bottle was a beauty. Silky in texture, with a purity to the kirsch and cherries that were surrounded by loads of pepper, spice, tobacco, earth and herbs. Purchased on release, this was the best bottle of this wine I have had in a while. I would not hold it for further development. If you have a bottle, pop a cork.

6,459 Views   Tasted
Starting to fade, but at close to 30 years of age, it's more than understood. Even at its advanced age, the silky, fresh, earthy, kirsch and red plums are seductive. The strong sense of lavender, cherry, pepper and assorted underbrush aromatics keep you coming back for more. This bottles was as clean and fresh as you're going to find here. I'd opt for drinking any remaining bottles over the next 5-7 years before the fruit fades even further.

Starting to fade, but at close to 30 years of age, it's more than understood. Even at its advanced age, the silky, fresh, earthy, kirsch and red plums are seductive. The strong sense of lavender, cherry, pepper and assorted underbrush aromatics keep you coming back for more. This bottles was as clean and fresh as you're going to find here. I'd opt for drinking any remaining bottles over the next 5-7 years before the fruit fades even further.

5,296 Views   Tasted
Another lucky bottle, as this was clean and pristine. With much more ripe red fruit, spice, herbs and only a hint of barnyard, the wine was supple, silky, concentrated and long!

Another lucky bottle, as this was clean and pristine. With much more ripe red fruit, spice, herbs and only a hint of barnyard, the wine was supple, silky, concentrated and long!

5,949 Views   Tasted
It's always a roll of the dice with 1989 Beaucastel. Some bottles are so horsey, you'd think you were in a barn or stable. Other bottles have had issues with their corks. But when you taste a clean, well-stored bottle, you're in for a treat. Fortunately, this was a clean bottle! With the perfect amount of earth, garrigue, black cherry, kirsch. strawberry jam and exotic spice and sensuous textures that ended with a long, opulent finish. While this is fully mature, if you waited another decade before popping bottle, it might be even better!

It's always a roll of the dice with 1989 Beaucastel. Some bottles are so horsey, you'd think you were in a barn or stable. Other bottles have had issues with their corks. But when you taste a clean, well-stored bottle, you're in for a treat. Fortunately, this was a clean bottle! With the perfect amount of earth, garrigue, black cherry, kirsch. strawberry jam and exotic spice and sensuous textures that ended with a long, opulent finish. While this is fully mature, if you waited another decade before popping bottle, it might be even better!

7,664 Views   Tasted
With all the bottle variation associated with the 89 Beaucastel, we got lucky. This was a pristine bottle and it was truly showing its stuff. This was possibly the finest bottle of 89 Beaucastel I've ever tasted! My first descriptor was "Wow!" Herbs, cherries, licorice, coffee and pepper notes exploded from the glass. Dense full bodied, with mountains of bright red and black fruit take over your palate. Initially the attack was slightly bitter, but that dissipated within a few moments. This is a big, concentrated, complex wine offering multiple layers of fruit, that still has a long future to look forward to. Great stuff!

With all the bottle variation associated with the 89 Beaucastel, we got lucky. This was a pristine bottle and it was truly showing its stuff. This was possibly the finest bottle of 89 Beaucastel I've ever tasted! My first descriptor was "Wow!" Herbs, cherries, licorice, coffee and pepper notes exploded from the glass. Dense full bodied, with mountains of bright red and black fruit take over your palate. Initially the attack was slightly bitter, but that dissipated within a few moments. This is a big, concentrated, complex wine offering multiple layers of fruit, that still has a long future to look forward to. Great stuff!

5,453 Views   Tasted
Barnyard, pepper, strawberry jam, kirsch, cassis and herbs made up the perfume. This fully mature bottle felt rich, creamy and round in the mouth. Abundant peppery, black cherry liqueur flavors remained in your mouth for almost 40 seconds. This wine seems more mature than other recent bottles.

Barnyard, pepper, strawberry jam, kirsch, cassis and herbs made up the perfume. This fully mature bottle felt rich, creamy and round in the mouth. Abundant peppery, black cherry liqueur flavors remained in your mouth for almost 40 seconds. This wine seems more mature than other recent bottles.

8,224 Views   Tasted
This wine can show bottle variation, but not tonight. It was sporting a spicy nose black and red fruit nose with no signs of brett. Concentrated with lush textures, the wine ended with a blast of ripe, black pepper tinged fruit.

This wine can show bottle variation, but not tonight. It was sporting a spicy nose black and red fruit nose with no signs of brett. Concentrated with lush textures, the wine ended with a blast of ripe, black pepper tinged fruit.

5,215 Views   Tasted
Spicy, rich and concentrated with herbs and a mélange of red and black fruits.

Spicy, rich and concentrated with herbs and a mélange of red and black fruits.

5,082 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Beaucastel, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Beaucastel is a much better wine with age. Young vintages can be decanted for 2-3 hours, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Beaucastel is better with 6-10 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. In the best vintages, the wine should be consumed within 10-35 years after the vintage.

Serving Beaucastel with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Beaucastel is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Beaucastel Rouge is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, stewed, grilled dishes, sausage, tomatoes, and cassoulet. Beaucastel Rouge is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

The white wine of Beaucastel is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork, and veal, as well as Asian cuisine and cheese.

Other wines from the Perrin family.

The Perrin family also maintains a partnership in California with Robert Haas called Tablas Creek. Formed in 1989, the California winery focuses on producing Rhone-style wine with both red and white Rhone varietals.

In 2013, the Perrin family entered into a partnership with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to produce Miraval, an organic Rose' wine from their Provencal estate. Miraval also produces 2 white wines, a blend of Grenache Blanc and Rolle, as well as a wine from 100% Rolle. Needless to say, Miraval is now the world's most popular Rose and wine from the Cotes de Provence.

In 2015, Miraval became the first rose' as well as the first wine in the entire Provence appellation to add anti-counterfeiting measures to their bottle. To prevent the type of forgeries that anything to do with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attracts, Miraval comes in a unique curve-shaped bottle. The bottle is also etched with the word Miraval at the bottom of the bottle.

Starting with the 2009 vintage, Beaucastel became one of the first wines outside of Bordeaux to be sold on the Place de Bordeaux by Bordeaux negociants. The Perrin family also produces one of the best red and white wines from their 30 hectares of vines in the Cotes du Rhone.

www.beaucastel.com