Product Description:
A monumental Mourvèdre from Châteauneuf’s rarest heights. Château de Beaucastel’s 2015 Hommage à Jacques Perrin is a benchmark expression of power, precision, and poise. Produced only in top vintages and from a single Mourvèdre-dominant parcel in the northern part of the appellation, this wine sits in the top echelon of the Southern Rhône—often compared to First Growths in stature and age-worthiness. In 2015, conditions were near perfect, yielding a wine of tremendous intensity without heaviness.
Dark and inky, the wine opens with aromas of blackberries, garrigue, olive tapenade and violet, alongside smoky spices and gamey depth. On the palate, it’s concentrated yet fresh, driven by fine tannins and bright acidity that carry layers of spice, blood plum and black tea into a long, mineral-charged finish. This is Mourvèdre elevated—feral yet controlled, structured yet seductive.
Drink now with a decant or cellar confidently through 2035+. Roasted lamb shoulder, game meats or braised wild boar will meet its match here.
Maker
Château de Beaucastel sits at the southern tip of France’s Rhône Valley, a benchmark estate for Châteauneuf-du-Pape and a rare custodian of all thirteen permitted grape varieties in the appellation. Under the stewardship of the Perrin family since 1909, the domaine blends deep respect for tradition with an unflinching openness to innovation — a combination that has kept it at the forefront of fine wine for more than a century.
The estate’s story begins in 1549, when Pierre de Beaucastel purchased a parcel of land at Coudoulet. While vines would not be recorded here until the 19th century, this early acquisition laid the groundwork for what is now one of France’s most celebrated vineyards. Today, 100 of its 130 hectares are under vine, three-quarters within the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, with a notable emphasis on Mourvèdre, lending the wines their distinctive structure, savoury depth, and longevity.
Beaucastel was an early pioneer in sustainable viticulture, adopting organic practices in 1950 and biodynamics in 1974 — decades before such approaches became fashionable. Each grape variety is vinified separately, in large, seasoned foudres, with only Syrah seeing a touch of new oak. This careful handling preserves the purity of fruit, textural finesse, and the subtle wild complexity for which Beaucastel is known. In cooler years, like 2021, the family leans further into Mourvèdre, crafting reds of lifted aromatics, dark fruit concentration, and finely woven tannins — wines built not just for immediate pleasure, but for decades in the cellar.
Philosophy
At Château de Beaucastel, the guiding principle is that great wine begins with healthy land and an honest expression of place. The Perrin family sees themselves not as owners, but as custodians of a living heritage — vines, soils, and traditions that predate them and will outlast them. Their approach is anchored in biodiversity: old-vine plantings, organic cultivation since 1950, and full biodynamic farming since 1974, long before such methods were widely adopted in France.
In the cellar, restraint is as important as precision. Each of the thirteen permitted Châteauneuf-du-Pape varieties is vinified on its own, allowing its character to emerge fully before blending. Large, seasoned foudres protect freshness and texture, while the minimal use of new oak lets the vineyard speak clearly. Even the estate’s signature hint of Brettanomyces — a byproduct of their high Mourvèdre content — is embraced as part of the wine’s authentic character rather than polished away.
The result is a style that is unapologetically Beaucastel: layered yet unforced, structured yet fluid, capable of ageing gracefully for decades. For the Perrins, longevity isn’t just about the wines — it’s about making choices that ensure the estate thrives for generations to come.
Tasting Notes
NOSE
– Deep and evocative
Blackberry, violet, black olive and warm spice with savoury, earthy undertones.
PALATE
– Rich and muscular
Bold dark fruit and wild herbs with layers of smoked meat, licorice and crushed pepper.
FINISH
– Long and structured
Mineral and spiced, with fine, mouth-coating tannins and saline persistence.
Reviews & Accolades
"How many wines in this world can be so huge yet so lacking the feeling of weight?... There's plenty of layered spice but also a core of raspberries; rich tannins, yet no real astringency; and a long finish without any apparent heat. Wow!" – Wine Advocate, 98 Points
"A well-endowed wine, dripping with cassis, plum sauce and raspberry purée... Dense yet remarkably polished, and almost supple in feel, with a bolt of warm earth scoring the very end of the finish." – Wine Spectator, 98 Points
"A classic blend of mostly Mourvèdre... it's rich, full-bodied, powerful and layered, with sweet, ripe tannin... the wine of the vintage." – Jeb Dunnuck, 99 Points
Finer Details:
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - 100% Mourvèdre
Country - France
Region - Rhône
Vintage - 2015
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14.5%
Closure - Cork
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