Will Stanley

9.0

The 2017 Coudoulet de Beaucastel, which comes from its own vineyard neighbouring the property, just outside the appellation. The vineyard shares much of the same terroir as its namesake across the road, and this is evident in the character – and quality – of the wine. The nose is a dead ringer for Châteauneuf, with effusive aromas of jammy red fruit, Turkish delight, liquorice, star anise, wild herbs, and cherry liqueur. The palate adds flavours of blood orange and dried cranberry, with good concentration. There is some heat and the finish feels slightly clunky, which is a shame – but I can imagine in a strong vintage this wine must be a real steal. And plenty of life left for this 2017, so I’d certainly look for the ‘16 or ‘19 as an alternative.

A nice wine to enjoy during advent.

07/12/25 — 4 days ago

Doug Powers

9.3

Lovely, sweet mature fruit (dried redfruits), there might be a touch of Brett (but less than the 1995 Beaucastel I posted last week), suave and complex on the palate, lingering finish, excellent Chateauneuf-du-Pape at its peak!! — a month ago

with Jim

Bob McDonald

9.1

Aromatics of new leather and dried fruit. Not your average Côtes du Rhône as you would expect from Chateau de Beaucastel. More full bodied than expected to go with our chicken dish. Far richer than Guigal’s version of Côtes du Rhône. — 5 days ago

Richard Portes

9.2

The 1999 is dead. The 1995 is great. — 22 days ago

Liz Dolan

9.8

Peppery and delicious. Smooth — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.9

The nose shows a touch of Animale and SO2 after decanting which eventually blew off. Sweet and smooth (raspberry notes) on the medium + bodied palate it is totally in balance. Tarry notes showing its 60% Mourvèdre (20% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise). The palate builds and builds with air and is amazing. I first tasted this wine at a structured personal tasting at the Chateau with my wife and the family around 12 years ago. The balance and palate intensity is incredible - it needed the 18 years of age. I have never tasted a Mourvèdre based wine (60%) to be as smooth and silky as this. Jancis score was 19/20. One of the 1001 wines and probably one of the best wines we have drunk this year. 99 points. — 2 months ago

Doug Powers

8.9

Nice aged Côtes du Rhône, definitely mature, but still some pleasant redfruit aromas and flavors, soft structure, lingering finish, time to drink up!! This was a gray market import, as all labels are in French only, 13.5% ABV. — 15 days ago

with Jim

Richard Portes

9.5

18. Light gold. Honeyed. Lovely on back palate. V long . Same class as Chapoutier Le Meal blanc. — a month ago

Mark Rosse

9.4

A lot better than the 2006 — a month ago

Doug Powers

9.0

This is a SUPERIOR Côtes du Rhône, dark fruits, lovely depth and complexity, this is old vines fruit just barely outside the CdP appellation (similar to Coudoulet de Beaucastel), and has long been a poor man’s CdP!! — 3 months ago

with Jim