Wine Advisor
Chateau de Beaucastel, Hommage a Jacques Perrin 1989
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
The first vintage for this cuvee, the still inky colored 1989 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage À Jacques Perrin is deeper, richer and more powerful than the 1990, yet slightly less evolved and exuberant. From a scorching hot and dry year, this incredible cuvee is massive on all counts, with classic dark fruits, roasted herbs, charred meats, melted licorice and truffle aromas and flavors, full-bodied richness, a dense, layered, multidimensional texture and a blockbuster finish that just wouldn’t quit. Like the 1990, there’s certainly some evolution here, and it’s a gorgeous drink today, but it should easily continue to evolve through 2030+.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1989 Hommage a Jacques Perrin is a profound wine. The dense, saturated, almost opaque black/purple color suggest super-ripeness and intensity. The nose has begun to close up (in total contrast to the more open 1990 Jacques Perrin), but it still offers smoky aromas of minerals, licorice, black fruits, and even an intriguing floral component. The wine is exceptionally full-bodied and tannic, as well as awesomely concentrated and magnificently well-balanced. This wine looks to be more backward and less flattering in its youth than the 1990. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020 Beaucastel is imported by Vineyard Brands, Chester, VT; tel. (802) 875-2139
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1989 Hommage a Jacques Perrin is a profound wine. The dense, saturated, almost opaque black/purple color suggests super ripeness and intensity. The nose has begun to close up (in total contrast to the more open 1990 Jacques Perrin), but it still offers smoky aromas of minerals, licorice, black fruits, and even an intriguing floral component. The wine is exceptionally full-bodied and tannic, as well as awesomely concentrated and magnificently well balanced. This wine looks to be more backward and less flattering in its youth than the 1990. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020. Last tasted 12/95.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
No tasting note.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A similar hue to the Hommage 1990. But a much richer, concentrated, more involving nose, quite minerally with notes of dark chocolate and black truffles. The palate is very focused with black cherry, spice and black pepper. Quite alcoholic and decadent, firm, unobtrusive tannins, this wine has a lot of potential and is only just beginning to open up. Needs considering patience. Drink from 2005. Tasted August 2004.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The less evolved 1989 boasts an even inkier purple color than the 1990. The most massive, biggest, concentrated, and structured of any of the Jacques Perrins, but it is still 5-10 years away from full maturity. It has great intensity and is extraordinary to taste, but it is not a lot of fun to drink ... if you know what I mean. In any event, this is a potentially perfect wine. The only question is, when will it hit its plateau of maturity? My guess is around 2010. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
I have had the 1989 Hommage a Jacques Perrin four times since bottling and it is a profound wine in every sense. The dense, saturated, almost opaque black/purple color suggests super-ripeness and intensity. The nose has lost nothing since bottling, offering up huge, smoky aromas filled with scents of minerals, licorice, black fruits, and even an intriguing floral component. In the mouth, the wine is exceptionally full-bodied and tannic, as well as awesomely concentrated and magnificently well-balanced. While less flattering to drink than the 1989 regular cuvee, it is unquestionably one of the greatest red wines I have ever tasted. Anticipated maturity: 1998-2025. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Chester, VT.
About the Producer
Chateau de Beaucastel (also known as Château Beaucastel) is located in the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation, one of the most famous sub-appellations of the Rhone Valley, France. Founded in the 16th century by the Beaucastel family, the estate was acquired in 1909 by the Perrin Family, currently owned by Charles Perrin. Jacques Perrin was a pioneer in organic farming in the 1960s and in 1974 he adopted the principles of "biodynamic" management of the vineyards, going against the trend of the time. He was convinced that respecting the nature of the terroir was the right way to go. Mourvedre, a native grape variety that has been present in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation since ancient times, has long been abandoned by most people because it is not easy to grow. Jacques Perrin has worked tirelessly to cultivate Mourvedre, restoring the original flavour of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines and enhancing their value. Jacques Perrin's red wines are made from Mourvèdre, the rare grape variety from which they derive their classic flavour. When Jacques Perrin died in 1978, the estate was managed by Jacques' sons, Jean-Pierre and Francois. Under the management of the two brothers, the winery has flourished. Today, the affairs of the estate have been taken over by Jean-Pierre's son, Charles Perrin. The vineyards of Château de Beaucastel have a rare terroir - the underlying limestone is covered with rounded pebbles, clay and gravel, with good drainage, which allows the vines to have deep, strong roots. At the same time, the Mistral winds bring a cool microclimate to the vineyards, which favours the growth of the grapes. Organic fertilizers are used exclusively in the vineyard. The vineyards are still planted with the 13 grape varieties approved by the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Appellation of Origin, including Mourvèdre, Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsault and Counoise for the red grapes and Roussanne and Grenache Blanc for the white grapes. Grenache Blanc.) Château de Beaucastel produces both red and white wines, with the Mourvedre grape predominating in the red wines and the Roussanne grape in the white wines. Some of the better known wines are the Chateau de Beaucastel Hommage a Jacques Perrin (Chateauneuf-du-Pape), the Chateau de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Châteauneuf-du-Pape), the Chateau de Beaucastel Nouvelle Vague (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) and the Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Châteauneuf-du-Pape), Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and the Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Cotes-Du-Rhone. The most noteworthy of these is the Château Beaucastel Salute to Perrin dry red wine. The weather was perfect in 1989 and the quality of the Mourvèdre harvested at the estate was outstanding. The brothers Jean-Pierre and François, the owners, decided to make a special wine in memory of their father. They named the wine Château de Beaucastel Tribute to Perrin, using Mourvèdre from old vines as the main grape. These old vines produce very low yields of ripe, concentrated fruit. For the past 30 years, Château de Beaucastel has been considered one of the greatest wineries in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region. Today, under the stewardship of Charles Perrin and his siblings, Château de Beaucastel is creating new glories and continuing the legacy of the Rhone Valley.
