Chateau de Beaucastel 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge

The Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022 is a highly anticipated red wine from the Southern Rhône. It's lauded for its complex and full-bodied nature, a hallmark of Beaucastel, which is known for utilizing all thirteen permitted grape varietals in its blend, with Mourvèdre and Grenache typically forming the backbone.

Early reviews suggest a rich and concentrated wine. Expect a spectrum of ripe red and black fruit aromas and flavors, including cherries, raspberries, blackberries, and blackcurrants. These fruit notes are often interwoven with savory and earthy undertones, such as graphite, smoked meat, violets, dried spices, and the characteristic garrigue (wild herbs) of the region. Some tasters also detect hints of licorice, chocolate, or tobacco.

The wine is described as having a deep, sometimes inky, color, a dense and layered texture, and firm, well-integrated tannins. Despite a warm and dry growing season in 2022, Beaucastel appears to have crafted a wine that maintains freshness and balance, avoiding any excessive heaviness. While enjoyable in its youth, its robust structure and depth indicate significant aging potential, with many experts suggesting it will evolve beautifully over two decades or more.