2021—too young, so somewhat unbalanced. Will save other bottles. — 2 months ago
Wax, salted almonds, butterscotch and honeysuckle. — 8 months ago
Aromatics of new leather and dried fruit. Not your average Côtes du Rhône as you would expect from Chateau de Beaucastel. More full bodied than expected to go with our chicken dish. Far richer than Guigal’s version of Côtes du Rhône. Had my last bottle 11 weeks later on 27th February 2026 with consistent notes. — 7 months ago


My contribution for a massive Grenache theme wine tasting (being as socially distanced as possible). This was alongside Cayuse God Only Knows, a 2011 No Girls Grenache, SQN Female, Saxum Terry Hogue, Lillian Grenache, 06 and 07 Beaucastel, and others.
Broken record, I know, but these wines are insanely delicious and so well crafted. Very much in the “love it or hate it” style, as typical with Cayuse wines. Much more spice and herbal lift here compared to the 2011. Stemmy, black peppercorn dusted rhubarb, olive, and smoked cherry jerky aromatics. Vibrant, almost nervy, on the palate with beautiful acidity. On the palate, it’s a back and forth between saline, iron driven savory notes and underripe fleshy red fruits. Compared to their Syrah, this is always a bit lighter and more bright. Seems to be drinking at peak. — 6 years ago



Popped and poured; enjoyed alongside Texas BBQ on the plane home. The 2005 “Hommage a Jacques Perrin” pours a deep purple with a ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly dark fruits: mixed brambles, black cherry, animale, star anise and black pepper, garrigue and stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This continues to be ever so dense but paired admirably with the BBQ. Drink now through 2055. — 2 months ago

The 2017 Coudoulet de Beaucastel, which comes from its own vineyard neighbouring the property, just outside the appellation. The vineyard shares much of the same terroir as its namesake across the road, and this is evident in the character – and quality – of the wine. The nose is a dead ringer for Châteauneuf, with effusive aromas of jammy red fruit, Turkish delight, liquorice, star anise, wild herbs, and cherry liqueur. The palate adds flavours of blood orange and dried cranberry, with good concentration. There is some heat and the finish feels slightly clunky, which is a shame – but I can imagine in a strong vintage this wine must be a real steal. And plenty of life left for this 2017, so I’d certainly look for the ‘16 or ‘19 as an alternative.
A nice wine to enjoy during advent.
07/12/25 — 7 months ago
Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service. The 2005 “Panoplie” pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous, with notes of ripe and desiccated black and red fruit: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, black cherry, strawberry, leather, mushrooms, purple flowers, cocoa, old wood and a mix of dry organic and inorganic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and simply delicious. Drink now through 2040+. — 10 months ago
Very dense in colour - an impenetrable dark Ruby red. Aromatics of dried red fruits, earth, a little charcuterie and a touch of tar. Love the CdP perfume. A trace of sootiness. This is the 2nd Cuvée of the enigmatic Henri Bonneau, who has now passed on. His top wine, Celestins, is a WOW Wine. A medium plus weight palate - both sweet and savoury and also rich. The flavours of good CdP suit my palate perfectly - particularly wines like this from Bonneau, Rayas or Beaucastel Jacques Perrin. 41 weeks later on 3rd August 2024 I had my last bottle. Very aromatic - voluminous. Dark savoury fruits. Mushroom and earthy notes and very French. Obviously not near as WOW as the Celestins. — 3 years ago
2016 - Quite delicious! Good structure without chalkiness. Clean yet round finish. Herbaceous, not too earthy. You'd expect Chateau Beaucastel to create a delicious Rhône with Cali grapes that you'd have a hard time knowing it was it wasn't from France. Drink now, but I'm saving my last bottle for a couple more years. — 4 years ago
Another absolutely fabulous older CdP, I saw @Jay Kline’s excellent tasting note from a few years ago on the 1990 (thanks for the info, @Jay Kline!!), this is amazing, amazingly a little better than the 1989 Beaucastel, what a trio of 1988-1990 CdPs!!! — a month ago

Holding up very well — 7 months ago
18. Light gold. Honeyed. Lovely on back palate. V long . Same class as Chapoutier Le Meal blanc. — 8 months ago
Deep yellow. Honey, melon, a little oak. Nice with herb salmon. February 2024. — 2 years ago
We first tried a bottle of Celestins in a restaurant in Gigondas some years ago, and for me it was a WOW Wine. Had this latest bottle on Sunday with Roast Pork. Medicinal to begin with which blew off. Barnyard aromas - horse manure. In hindsight this could’ve been Brett but the overall impression and tasting was impressive and memorable. Glad I have 3 left. Showing a medium to full bodied palate. This is textbook CdP in the old school genre. The tannins are silky and sexy - a liquorice note together with saddle leather. Henri Bonneau passed away in 2016 and the wine making is now carried out by his son, Marcel. A visit to his archaic cellars was keenly sought after and rarely granted. Mould all over the walls, rickety stairs light bulbs dangling from the ceiling and a floor which stuck to the soles of your shoes was how one visitor described his experience in the cellar. Nevertheless this is a CdP up there with Rayas and the top Cuvée from Beaucastel. The blend is usually 90% Grenache with the balance made up of around 4 or 5 different varieties. — 3 years ago
I get it, I get it. This is the first Chateauneuf that’s really wowed me. Having been left a little underwhelmed by the 2004 Beaucastel I had over Christmas (though I rated this highly at the time), I looked to Isabel Ferrando and her Domaine de Saint Préfert for some confirmation - in my untrained mind - as to the appeal of CNDP. And boy, did this bottle deliver.
This wine boasts a very powerful aroma, which drove me to profanity when I first smelled it; a mix of blueberry, liquorice, bergamot and coffee much of which continues on the palate. It’s incredibly ripe, full, seductive and has everything in check: fresh acidity, gentle tannin, and a long, velvety finish (think Turkish delight). My initial thought on composition was that this must be a Grenache-dominant blend given the ripe, fruit forward profile and high alcohol (15%), so as an amateur I was pleased to find out that, indeed, it’s 85% Grenache with 15% Cinsault.
A great wine that will age gracefully. I wish I had more. — 6 years ago
Doug Powers
Fully mature, still shows some primary redfruits, good acidity, longish finish, really a fine CdR!! — 24 days ago