Wine Advisor
Chateau de Beaucastel, Hommage a Jacques Perrin 1995
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from a vintage that featured a hot summer followed by substantial rain in September that forced vignerons to wait until late September/early October to harvest, the 1995 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage À Jacques Perrin (70% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and 5% Counoise) has the classic Beaucastel funk, with lots of olive tapenade, gamey meat, truffle and sweet currant and cherry fruit. Still structured and firm on the palate, it opens up nicely in the glass, has impressive concentration and a spine of both acidity and tannin that should keep it evolving nicely for another decade or so.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1995 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Jacques Perrin reveals a black/purple color, and a huge nose of Provencal herbs, smoked olives, grilled meats, and sweet, jammy black-cherry and black-raspberry fruit. Full-bodied, and oozing with extract and glycerin (nearly concealing the wine's formidable tannin levels), this blockbuster Chateauneuf du Pape will need a minimum of 10-12 years of cellaring; it should keep through the first half of the next century. Last tasted 6/96.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Quantities of the 1995 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Jacques Perrin will be slightly more abundant than the 300 cases of the 1994. The wine reveals a black/purple color, and a huge nose of Provencal herbs, smoked olives, grilled meats, and sweet, jammy black-cherry and black-raspberry fruit. Full-bodied, and oozing with extract and glycerin (nearly concealing the wine's formidable tannin levels), this blockbuster Chateauneuf du Pape will need a minimum of 10-12 years of cellaring; it should keep through the first half of the next century. This wine was tasted between June 1 and June 16, 1996. Beaucastel represents the highest level of serious, artisanal winemaking, but readers need to keep in mind that Beaucastel is the most atypical wine of Chateauneuf du Pape, so different, it almost deserves its own appellation. Beaucastel has had spectacular vintages in both 1994 and 1995. In 1994, the estate began its harvest early (August 31). In 1995, the key was to wait out the two weeks of intermittent showers between September 7 and 19, and pick late. The success of this philosophy was seen time and time again when tasting the successes and mediocrities of the two vintages. Those producers who harvested early in 1994 made the finest wines, but in contrast, those who picked late in 1995 were usually the most successful. The red wines of Beaucastel have a tendency to close down once they are bottled, as the high percentage of Mourvedre begins to dominate the wine's personality for the following 6-10 years. For example, the 1993 Beaucastel, which was so flattering after bottling, is completely shut down, and it is anybody's guess as to when it might re-emerge into full bloom. The 1994 and 1995 red wines are made from riper fruit than the 1993, but do not be surprised to find them more structured upon their arrival to these shores. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Chester, VT; tel. (802) 875-2139
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The two limited cuvees of Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin are spectacular in both 1994 and 1995, but each will require 10-15 years of cellaring. Less than 300 cases were made in each vintage. The textbook blend of 70% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and 5% Counoise was utilized in 1989, 1990, and 1994, but in 1995, the Mourvedre component was reduced, with the amount of Counoise and Syrah increased significantly. The 1995 reveals more of an aged beef, smoked duck-like component, no doubt because of the higher percentage of Counoise and Muscardin. Although there is less Mourvedre in this cuvee, it still possesses the massive richness, opaque purple color, and sweet, earthy fruit that oozes over the palate with extraordinary intensity and purity. The change in the 1995's blend gives the wine a more spice-driven, animal character, with the distinctive aged beef/Asian spice/smoked duck characteristics more exaggerated. This wine needs 12-15 years of cellaring, and should last 40-50 years. It is a modern-day classic. No Hommage cuvee was produced in 1996. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Chester, VT; tel. (802) 875-2139
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1995 remains tight, backward, and far less evolved than the 1998. The dense inky purple color is accompanied by a floral, blueberry, mineral, and licorice-dominated bouquet. Huge and formidably endowed, but closed, tannic, and backward, it will be at its apogee between 2010-2030. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
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)1990(1)
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