Wine Advisor
Chateau de Beaucastel, Hommage a Jacques Perrin 1990
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A virtually perfect wine, this 1990 has been spectacular every time I tasted it. It still needs another 5-7 years to reach full maturity, but it is already a massive, complex wine with multiple dimensions. The color is a dense, opaque black/blue/purple. A stunning nose of Asian spices, black truffles, licorice, glorious levels of sweet, jammy blackberries, raspberries, and cherries is to die for. Extremely full-bodied, with moderately high tannin that is nearly obscured by the wine's layers of extract, glycerin, and concentration, this pure, spicy, dense Chateauneuf can be drunk now, but owners should try to defer their gratification for another 3-4 years. It should last for 25-35 years. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
About as sexy as this cuvee gets, the 1990 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage À Jacques Perrin (60% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, and the rest Syrah and Counoise) is spectacular. Similar in style to the 2000, it comes from a hot, dry vintage (and a big crop) that resulted in perfect ripeness and low acidity in most of the varieties. Full-bodied, supple, seamless and silky, with sweet tannin, it has awesome aromatics of kirsch liqueur, currants, Provençal herbs, meat juice and exotic spices all literally soaring from the glass. At maturity and drinking brilliantly, it should hold nicely for another decade easily, and have a gradual decline after that.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1990 Jacques Perrin cuvee possesses an increased percentage of Mourvedre (60%), along with Grenache (20%), Counoise (10%), and Syrah (10%). It is a super-concentrated, mammoth-sized wine with black/purple color, and a huge, fragrant perfume of smoked meat, black fruits, earth, and Asian spices. Muscular and tannic, with tremendous amounts of glycerin and concentration, this super cuvee should reach its peak by the end of the century and last for 20-30 years. Beaucastel is imported by Vineyard Brands, Chester, VT; tel. (802) 875-2139
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1990 Hommage a Jacques Perrin possesses an increased percentage of Mourvedre (60%), along with Grenache (20%), Counoise (10%), and Syrah (10%). It is a super concentrated, mammoth-sized wine with black/purple color, and a huge, fragrant perfume of smoked meat, black fruits, earth, and Asian spices. Muscular and tannic, with tremendous amounts of glycerin and concentration, this super cuvee should reach its peak by the end of the century and last for 20-30 years. Last tasted 12/95.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
I was disappointed with this wine. The nose lacks intensity: just a faint aroma of black truffle, herbs and mushroom. It pales against the regular 1990 and the Hommage 1989. The palate is quite linear, well knit but with little depth and less tannic structure than I had hoped. Where is the grip? Where is the weight on the mid-palate? An hour later, I compared the remaining wine with the two mentioned previously and it was oxidised and flagging whilst the others had mellowed but retained their vigour. I prefer the regular CdP in 1990 - no contest. Tasted August 2004.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The perfection of the 1990 is based on a seamless, classic, harmonious concoction of flowers, melted licorice, blackberries, kirsch, blueberries, and Asian spices. An enormously full-bodied, sweet, expansive, amazing wine with a finish that lasts over a minute, it combines the extraordinary hedonism of the 1998 with an unbelievable intellectual appeal that makes it so hauntingly great. Even though it remains youthful, it can be drunk now or cellared for another 30 years. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The Perrins have decided that only in exceptional vintages will the Hommage a Jacques Perrin cuvee be produced. Unlike the regular cuvee, the 1990 possesses an increased percentage of Mourvedre (60%), along with Grenache (20%), Counoise (10%) and Syrah (10%). Also unlike the regular 1990, it is still in foudre and will probably not be bottled until late 1992 or early 1993. It is an awesome, super-concentrated, mammoth-sized wine with black/purple color, and a huge, fragrant perfume of smoked meat, black fruits, earth, and oriental spices. Muscular and tannic, with tremendous amounts of glycerin and concentration, this super-cuvee should reach its peak by the end of the century and last for 20-30 years. Production is extremely limited, so prospective purchasers will need an inside contact, as well as deep pockets. 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.
1989(2)
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