Château de Beaucastel 2019

The dark-fruited, plummy and cola-scented 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape is a rich, full-bodied effort reminiscent of 2007 or 2009. Dense, powerful and savoury, it may drink well for a short time on release, but expect it to close up shortly, only to re-emerge in several years. There's ample concentration and sufficient tannins for the long haul, with a long, dusty finish and hints of liquorice that bode well for the future.

This is pretty gorgeous, with a remarkably pure display of cassis, cherry purée and plum reduction flavours laced ever so gently with threads of leather, alder and dried garrigue. The sleek iron spine is buried deeply on the finish, and there's a lingering hint of warm stone as the fruit echoes through. Built to last. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul, Bourboulenc, Picardan and Roussanne. Best from 2024 to 2040. 7,000 cases produced, 1,700 cases imported.

Restrained nose showing fruitcake aromas. Firm on the palate with an assertive tannic structure and plenty of fruit.

Cask sample, tasted at the domaine. What a stunning nose! Piercingly fresh and expressive notes of violet, garrigue and black-olive tapenade. Defined tannins support the fresh zesty mid palate and is all beautifully encased in a toasty cape of dark fruit. (AC)

Saturated violet colour. Powerful, mineral-accented cherry, blackberry, liquorice and -garrigue- scents, along with a hint of candied flowers. Deep, penetrating and alluringly sweet, offering cherry liqueur, dark berry, lavender, exotic spice and cola flavours that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. In a concentrated yet lively, fluid style. Finishes extremely long and precise, with building tannins and a powerful echo of spiciness and florality.

Spicy, meaty, earthy, rich and lushly textured, the wine has depth of flavour, complexity and lift. The wine is balanced and concentrated, and the fruit shows ripeness with lift that works. The spicy essence to the red fruits is on the nose and in the deep, dark, spicy red fruits on the palate and finish. Drink from 2025 - 2039

Strong ruby, purple reflections, faint ochre brightening on the rim. Delicate herbal spice, ripe plums, dark cherries, a touch of leather and dried fruit, overall still restrained. Juicy, red cherries, some figs, round tannins, mineral, fresh and accessible, a versatile food wine.