2011 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Rouge

Very dark crimson. In fact the bluest southern Rhône 2011 to have come my way so far. Quite complex and somehow sharp. Very sweet start and then very firm tannins. Seems much more youthful than some Châteauneufs. Very tight for the moment. Ambitious for a Côtes du Rhône! (JR)

Deep ruby. Pure, floral aromas of red fruits, licorice, lavender and minerals. Dense, sweet and penetrating, boasting strong lift to its sappy raspberry and cherry flavors. Finishes sweet and long, with gentle tannins and a jolt of bitter cherry.

The 2011 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet de Beaucastel is another excellent wine from the Perrin Family. Complex and perfumed, with notions of earthy black fruits, licorice and roasted meats, it possesses sweet tannin, medium to full-bodied richness and a great finish. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years. Drink now-2021. ||Covering a full 175 acres in Chateauneuf du Pape, with significant holdings throughout the Southern Rhone (mostly vinified at and released under their Famille Perrin brand), Chateau De Beaucastel is a benchmark estate that excels at all price points. Looking at the wines reviewed here, 2011 is surprisingly strong (especially for the Chateauneufs) and with their perfumed aromatics and supple textures, they show a lot of similarities to the 2009s. The 2012s as a whole show more freshness and purity, with good concentration, and should require more bottle age to come around. Both vintages are worth seeking out. Looking at the 2011s across the board, all of which were in bottle, it appears to be a strong vintage here. While the vintage suffered due to uneven ripening in the Grenache, it was actually a solid vintage for Mourvedre and this shows, particularly in the Chateauneufs. Wine Advocate.October, 2013