Description

At twenty years old, this Beaucastel has moved into its mature phase but still carries more structure and grip than most of its neighbours, thanks to the high proportion of Mourvèdre at the heart of the blend. The colour is a deep garnet with a broad brick rim. The nose is complex and distinctly savoury: dried black cherry and plum sit alongside leather, game, smoked meat and truffle, with lavender, liquorice, damp earth and the characteristic farmyard edge that marks out mature Beaucastel.

The palate is full and layered, with the tannins now rounded and polished but still giving a firm, dusty frame. The 2006 vintage’s fresh acidity keeps the wine poised, and the fruit, though now firmly secondary and tertiary, still has real depth. The finish is long and savoury, with notes of forest floor, cured meat and a lingering herbal, peppery spice.