Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
150cl * 15.0% ABV * Côtes du Rhône, France
A historic Château in the Southern Rhône, located just to the south of Orange and owned by the Bernard family, Château Beauchêne farm 80 hectares of vines split between Châteauneuf du Pape, Côtes du Rhône Villages and Côtes du Rhône. Michel & Dominique Bernard run the Château with the help of their daughter Amandine and a team of six others in the winery and vineyards.
Château Beauchêne have their Châteauneuf du Pape vineyards in the Mont-Redon and Courthézon sector of Châteauneuf du Pape, situated towards the north of the appellation on a distinct plateau. Here, the galet roulé boulders are at their most apparent and the vines are at their most exposed to the Mistral wind. This geographical situation tends to produce the Châteauneuf du Pape wines with the highest proportion of Grenache, due to its affinity with heat, wind and the low water table found on the plateau.
The Beauchêne Châteauneuf du Pape is no exception to this general rule – up to 85% Grenache from vines planted in 1905. Syrah and Mourvédre make up the rest of the blend, with a slightly higher proportion of the earlier ripening Syrah used to Mourvédre, as Mourvédre can struggle in some years that have continuously cold Mistral winds. The wine is aged both in foudres (large old oak barrels) and newer, smaller oak barriques for around a year before bottling. This early bottle date for Châteauneuf du Pape tends to capture a dynamically powerful young wine and consequently has plenty of stuffing for ageing.
Decant for an hour and serve at 17°c. Drinking now to 2028.
Pairs with Moroccan chicken tagine, any serving of lamb, smoky cauliflower steaks or roasted veggies.