2020 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Blanc

A blend of 30% each Bouboulenc, Marsanne and Viognier, plus 10% Roussanne, the 2020 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet de Beaucastel Blanc features scents of apricot, pear, melon and citrus. Medium to full-bodied, it's a bit honeyed, plump and richly textured, with a long, chalky finish. It's a top-notch effort.

The freshness on the nose makes me think of spring flowers, but on the palate this is fuller and richer than the nose suggests. Wide spectrum of stone-fruit aromas, from white peach to mirabelle, plus some candied citrus. Pronounced fresh character at the long silky finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.

The 2020 Côtes Du Rhône Coudoulet De Beaucastel Blanc is a beauty and offers lots of melon and pear fruits as well as classic spice and rocky minerality. Based on 30% each of Viognier, Marsanne, and Bourboulenc, with the balance Clairette, it’s medium-bodied, beautifully textured, and balanced, with the fresh, pure, elegant style of the vintage. As usual, I was able to taste the Perrin family’s Gigondas releases during my visit to Château de Beaucastel, and have included those releases here as well. This estate continues to fashion a classic, age-worthy style of wine, largely based on Mourvèdre. Looking at the latest releases reviewed here, the 2020s show the pure, fresh, yet still nicely concentrated style of the vintage. The 2020 whites are brilliant, with slightly cooler, more vibrant profiles, which is the style of the vintage. As to the reds, both 2020 and 2019 are unquestionably brilliant vintages here, with the nod I think going to the 2019s.