2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc

I eagerly anticipated meeting with winemaker César Perrin to learn about the massive construction project to rebuild the winery. From hundreds of applications, the Perrin Family awarded Indian architect Bijoy Jain with the task. The fundamental concept revolves around utilizing local soil in lieu of conventional cement, intending to facilitate the transfer of materials back to the local soils when the winery is eventually reconstructed 50 years from now. However, the true magic takes place beneath the surface, as sizable basins are filled with rainwater that is collected from the winery's roofs during the winter season. The mistral, a potent and typically arid wind that sweeps down from the north across the entire Rhône Valley, enters these subterranean basin halls, where it is cooled by the water, maintaining a natural temperature ranging from 12 to 14 degrees Celsius (equivalent to 53.6 to 57.2 degrees Fahrenheit). This cooled air is then redistributed throughout the winery to effectively regulate the temperature of the entire facility without the use of electricity. Instead of focusing on showy architectural designs with the sole intention of impressing, this approach reflects a visionary mindset embracing sustainability. Architecture aside, this year’s tasting covered a captivating set of vintages spanning from 2018 to 2022. Whether you choose their traditional white or red Châteauneuf-du-Pape or indulge in their special cuvées, you are in for a treat. Everything you could possibly look for in a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape—aromatic complexity, elegance, richness, balance, intensity, persistence—you will discover in Château de Beaucastel’s wines. While tasting the whites, Perrin and I debated how long they could develop in bottle. I was more conservative than him, suggesting that it is rare to see significant improvement after ten years of age. Perrin, on the other hand, reported memorable tastings of white Château de Beaucastel that had aged for several decades and suggested arranging a vertical tasting of the Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes at a later date to provide evidence for his stance.