Château de Beaucastel Coudoulet de Beaucastel 2021

A terrific vintage for this wine, which was bottled just a couple of weeks prior to my late June visit, the 2021 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet de Beaucastel is a blend of 30% each Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, plus 10% Cinsault. From a vineyard just outside the boundaries of the appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it's a remarkably consistent wine and always a solid value. Scents of sunbaked stones, black cherries and licorice appear on the nose, joined by hints of purple raspberries and dark chocolate, while the medium to full-bodied palate is lush and velvety, finishing long and complex.

Bottled at the beginning of July, the 2021 Côtes Du Rhône Coudoulet De Beaucastel shows the fresher, focused style of the vintage yet brings beautiful fruit. Red, blue, and black fruits, peppery herbs, and underbrush notes define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied, with ripe, polished tannins and a great finish.