2008 Chateauneuf Du Pape
By Chateau de Beaucastel
2008 Chateauneuf Du Pape from Chateau de Beaucastel, Rhone
Indubitably, one of the stellar offerings from the Rhone Valley, the 2008 Chateauneuf Du Pape from Chateau de Beaucastel exudes an intriguing blend of finesse and complexity. Notable oenologist families like the Perrins have crafted a wine that gratifies the palate with unique flavour sensations endemic to a time-stamped climatic setting.
The Pinnacle of Artful Vinification
Intricately woven and wily as a fox, the 2008 vintage is much more than mere liquid in a bottle. It encapsulates the painstaking efforts of Chateau de Beaucastel’s adept vintners who managed to orchestrate a symphony of flavours amidst challenging climatic patterns. This reveals itself in a sophisticated balance between earth-driven authority and nimble fruit expression.
Elegantly presenting complex layers of ripe black fruits, hints of spice and profound earthy undertones, this Chateauneuf Du Pape is a living testament to an extraordinary year. The influence of an intermittently cool summer can be tasted in the restrained yet expressive raspberry notes and underlying freshness.
Maverick Vintage, Promising Investment
The fact that this vintage stands out in one of Rhone's most esteemed appellations speaks to its potential for careful wine investment. The 2008 harvest was marked by cooler than the average temperatures leading to wines brimming with acidity - a signifier of beneficial ageing potential.
The subtlety and ageability inherent in the 2008 Chateauneuf Du Pape from Chateau de Beaucastel makes it a prime candidate for any savvy wine investor. A masterclass in Rhone Valley resilience, this vintage is living proof that exceptional winemaking can transmute challenging conditions into something profoundly rewarding.
In the grand landscape of Chateauneuf Du Pape, the 2008 vintage from Chateau de Beaucastel stands as a beacon of resilience, craftmanship, and unique flavour profiles worth exploring. This vintage offers not just a splendid drinking experience but a promising investment opportunity, too.
Market price (HKD)
HK$8,430.00
12x75cl
Highest score
90
POP score
88
Scores and tasting notes
The 2008 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape is one of the few outstanding wines produced in this vintage. More evolved than Beaucastel’s wines tend to be, it reveals a healthy dark plum/ruby color, notes of licorice, meat juices, smoked game, black currants and garrigue, medium to full body, silky tannins, good freshness, surprising depth for the vintage and a long finish. Drink it over the next decade. The Perrin brothers, Jean-Pierre and Francois, and their sons, Thomas, Marc, Pierre and Mathieu, have long owned over 200 acres of top sites in Chateauneuf du Pape and can now claim over 1,000 acres in the southern Rhone as their empire under the Perrin et Fils label expands considerably. This is good news for consumers as the Perrins, one of the great winemaking families of France, are dedicated to producing high quality wines, preserving top terroirs, and to providing a range of wines in all price ranges that are as good as consumers can expect. Purchasing a wine from this family is about as close to a guarantee of authenticity and high quality as one can expect. There is no secret to surviving the recent world-wide recession and fragile economy. No matter what field one is in – wine, the service industry, product development, etc., one has to over deliver in order to keep consumers happy. Don’t do that, expect a dwindling economic return and possible failure. The Perrins long ago adopted this philosophy, even in boom times. Speaking of wines that over deliver, readers should be searching out the super inexpensive, bargain priced La Vieille Ferme offerings. The Perrins have put together a terrific portfolio of top wines from the leading Cotes du Rhone Villages. With the exception of the estate wines in Vinsobres, they are all dominated by Grenache. To date, the finest wines have emerged from the 2007 vintage, but very strong efforts have been produced in 2009. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 30 October 2010