1983 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
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Tasting notes
Magnum served blind. Slightly cloudy ruby with lots of evolution at the rim. Gamey nose. Not especially fresh but certainly massively mature. Very very sweet and very definitely ready to drink! Slightly medicinal and noticeable sediment. On the way down. (JR)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
An example that possessed considerable brett from its inception, as well as plenty of beefy, sweaty horse smells is the 1983. This effort, while slightly in decline, still offers impressive aromatics (if you like your reds meaty and kinky), but the tannin is beginning to poke through at the back of the mouth. Rich and medium to full-bodied, the 1983 is undoubtedly spectacular out of larger formats, but from regular bottles, it is beginning to show some fatigue, even from my cold cellar. Drink it up. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
Very low proportion of Grenache. Very, very dark ruby with definite development on the rim. Quite a subtle nose – tea? Violets too. Mouthfilling, warming, not very very subtle or many high notes. Slightly dusty end. Relatively lightweight. Not intense. A bit gamey and low key. Sweet, a bit simple. (JR)
About the producer
This Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate is one of the Rhône’s most famous addresses. With a history stretching back to the 16th century, Beaucastel remains family owned and run, with the fifth generation of the Perrin family – Marc, Pierre, Thomas, Cécile, Charles, Matthieu and César – at the helm today.