Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge 2020 (1.5L)

97 JS / 96 DE / 95 VM / 95-97 WA / 94-96 JD / 95 WS / 17.5 JR

Very dense black-fruit aromas, but also licorice, an entire microcosm of spice and a whiff of smoked bacon. Very dense and meaty with an incredible tannin structure that enables this to be simultaneously very big and elegant. Super-long finish with enormous mineral freshness. Drink or hold. - James Suckling

Fresh and bright nose, then a palate with exceptionally smooth and fine tannins, lovely acidity and notes of blackberry and raspberry juice. Particularly fine, elegant and balanced this year. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudre. - Matt Walls, Decanter

The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape displays pronounced aromas of ripe forest strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, mint, cured meat, dried herbs and hints of tobacco. On the palate it is full-bodied, concentrated, muscular and framed by polished tannins. Lively acids perfectly balance it, ending with excellent persistence on the savory finish. Producing this high level of quality with a whopping 180,000 bottles is remarkable in the context of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.--NG, Vinous Media

Beaucastel's 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape is shaping up as a blend of 30% each Grenache and Mourvèdre, with 10% each Counoise and Syrah, plus 20% other permitted varieties, including a healthy proportion of white grapes. Complex and red-fruited, with hints of flowers and garrigue, it's expansive and richly textured on the palate, finishing long and silky. - JC, Wine Advocate

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape was scheduled to be bottled the week after this tasting, and it's the usual blend of 35% Mourvedre, 25% Grenache, and the rest Syrah, Counoise, and other permitted varieties. While the estate compares this to their 2016, it reminds me slightly of their 1990 and has a wonderful perfume of red, blue, and black fruits, as well as sappy garrigue, saddle leather, and ground pepper. It's beautifully textured, medium to full-bodied, has a good sense of freshness, and fine tannins, as well as a tight, focused style on the palate that bodes well for longevity. It deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and should be long-lived. - Jeb Dunnuck

Showing a stunning combination of power and grace, this is just entering its prime. Boasts beautifully integrated layers of red plum, crunchy cherry and dusty thyme, melded with finely crushed graphite and a sultry waft of incense and apple wood smoke. Pleasingly chewy, with tannins holding firm and a cool menthol note on the mineral-rich finish. Large in scale and complex, there's nothing heavy-handed about this wine. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret Blanc, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul de Pinet, Bourboulenc, Picardan and Roussanne. Drink now through 2036. 3,540 cases made. - Kristen Bieler, Wine Spectator

Blend of all 13 permitted varieties with a bias towards Grenache and Mourvèdre: 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 5% Cinsault, 15% of the other permitted varieties. Cask sample.
Piercing fresh fruit, both red and blue fruits. Juicy and has delineated and fine chalky tannins. Good fruit intensity and has crushed red fruits, sweet spice and well-judged acidity. Clean and layered long finish. - (AC) JancisRobinson .com