2016 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel
Community Tasting Note
PSPatrick wrote:
Saturday, September 21, 2019 - The wine was medium to dark purple in colour and had a reductive nose. It offered sweet, ripe red and dark fruit, blackberry, violets, herbs, spice, liquorice, vanilla and a hint of stony mineral notes on the palate, with lively acidity, fine tannin,and very good length of the dry finish that stood in a pleasant contrast to the fruit sweetness.
The medium- to full-bodied, ripe, smooth and balanced wine had a plush, enticingly smooth texture. The wine was a little simple, but had great concentration and the lovely texture stood out. This Coudoulet de Beaucastel outclassed quite a few of the Châteauneuf-du-Papes and Gigondas I had over the last couple of weeks. You can actually drink this now (and if you do it will be hard to keep your hands of your other bottles), but the wine should reward five or six years in the cellar and should continue to drink well past that. That said, I liked the wine better on day one than on day two as it became more loosely structured over night. Very good value. 92 for day one.
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6 comments have been posted
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Comment posted by macaujames:
9/25/2019 11:42:00 AM - We more or less share the same impeccable opinion on this tasty spherical wine. I share your view on its wonderful QPR. But at the same time it's big brother, Beaucastel 2016 must be a really profound wine. Have you tasted it yet?
Comment posted by srh:
11/28/2020 5:15:00 PM - *Great* TN (as always), PSPatrick! 👍 MANY thanks for having taken the time to post it! 🙂 BTW, particularly if you purchased more of this, you might want to check out https://www.cellartracker.com/showwikirevision.asp?iWine=2785771&JoinType=Wine&iIndex=2785771 for specific info on this vintage, including acclaim.
Comment posted by srh:
11/28/2020 5:18:00 PM - macaujames, while I've not tasted this wine, I *do* have a TN on 9/28/19 for the Beaucastel. 😉
Comment posted by PSPatrick:
11/29/2020 12:01:00 AM - @macaujames: As it happens, I indeed bought a case of 2016 Beaucastel CdP on sale. I haven't had the chance to try it yet, but I agree, it should be excellent!
I was fortunate to spend a long weekend in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and in Burgundy with a friend last year. We tasted more than 100 wines that weekend, mostly Châteauneuf-du-Papes from the 2015 and 2016 vintages, plus some 2017s. My general impresasion was that all three vintages produced amazing wines, and that each vintage was very different stylistically. While the 2015s were all about structure, the 2016s were all about fruit, ripeness and texture, and the 2017 sort of a mix of the best of both vintages. Consequently, in most cases I personally preferred 2015 and in particular 2017 to 2016, but for many who are seeking fruit, immediate appeal and sensational textures the 2016s will be the go-to vintage. In any case, for fans of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, all three vintates should generally be worth buying.
Comment posted by PSPatrick:
11/29/2020 12:07:00 AM - @srh: Thank you! I indeed happen to have a case of the 2016 Beaucastel CdP somewhere, but haven't had the chance to try it yet.
Thank you for directing me to the article about the vintage. Looks like I am in for a treat with the Beaucastels. As just mentioned to macaujames, generalizing my palate tends to prefer the 2015s and in particular the 2017s (with some exceptions, of course), but every now and then its fun to indulge in the hedonistic 2016s ;)
Comment posted by srh:
11/29/2020 12:45:00 PM - No, PSPatrick, thank YOU: Your comparison of the '15, '16, & '17 vintages was *great*! 👍 🙂