Chateau de Beaucastel has long been regarded as one of the greatest wines in France. It is notorious for its elegance, balance and ageing potential. Beaucastel has an exceptional terroir at the Northern limit of Chateauneuf du Pape, exposed to the Mistral wind. All thirteen varieties of the appellation have been organically grown since the sixties. Each variety is harvested separately and manually. Vinification takes place in oak fermenters for the reductive varieties (Mourvedre, Syrah) and in traditional enameled concrete tanks for the Oxidative grapes (all the others). Once the malolactic fermentation is finished, the Famille Perrin blends the different varieties. The blend is then aged in oak Foudres for a year before being bottled. The 2018 Chateauneuf Du Pape showed nicely with a deep ruby/purple color as well as classic Beaucastel aromas and flavours of darker currents, blueberries, smoked meats, black licorice and roasted herbs. The final blend I was shown is almost candied in its fruity intensity of raspberries and cherries, yet it has a potent underpinning of more savory elements, like tapenade, grilled meat and dried spices. Full-bodied, with fine, silky tannins, this shows tremendous length, reverberating with hints of crushed stone. With medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, clean, elegant texture, sweet tannins, and a great finish, this seamless, elegant Beaucastel will be approachable in its youth, yet still have 20+ years of prime drinking. RP: 95-97Pts; D: 96Pts; WS: 95Pts; JD: 94Pts; V: 92-94Pts Crafted from organically-grown grapes