Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape 1989

Date: 4 March 2006
Andrew's Birthday Dinner

Chateau de Beaucastel is regarded as one of the top estates of Chateauneuf du Pape in the Southern Rhone Valley. The wine is often criticized for having excessive Brettanomyces (see previous article - Wine Basics), a yeast that imparts animalistic, sometimes described as horse-urine aromas and flavours to the wine. However, some wine critics attribute these aromas to the high proportion of Mourvedre used in the making of the wine.

This 1989 vintage flagship of Beaucastel was aired for 4 hours prior to tasting, allowing the volatile aromatic phenols to dissipate. The nose was powerful, I felt the Brettanomyces animalistic, meaty aroma overshadowed the fruit underneath initially. Aly was able to smell the leather several feet away. After a few swirls in the glass, the pungent character yields to allow the rich, dark, smoky fruit to come through. Palate was charming and fruit-laden, with chocolate and spice towards the finish.

A very masculine wine. Costing over HK$2000 a bottle, not for the faint-hearted.

Rating: Good