Coudoulet de Beaucastel Rouge, Perrin - Château de Beaucastel 2020

Bottled a month ago, the 2020 Côtes Du Rhône Coudoulet sports a vivid ruby hue and is a blend of 30% each of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, with the balance Cinsault. It’s a ripe, rounded, medium to full-bodied effort that has lots of ripe red and blue fruits as well as notes of peppery garrigue and leather. Drink this juicy, elegant Côtes Du Rhône over the coming decade. Drink 2022-2032.

Deep, savory nose with notes of ripe black cherries and plum cake, plus minty and floral notes. In spite of the considerable power and generous tannin, this is very focused and elegant. The long, energetic finish suggests this has years of life ahead of it. Drink or hold.

The 2020 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet de Beaucastel continues this cuvée's hot streak. A blend of approximately 30% each Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, with 10% Carignan, it boasts attractive floral overtones, hints of crushed stone and ripe cherry fruit. Full-bodied and impressively silky for such a young wine, it should be drinkable upon release and for at least a decade thereafter. Drink Date: 2022 - 2033

Easy-going, not too tannic, juicy, fresh and precise, with raspberry acidity. Good length, more structured than many Côtes-du-Rhônes. Tannins just a touch dry and fibrous compared to some finer Châteauneufs, but this is very good. Drink 2022-2030.