2001 Ch Beaucastel Hommage a Jacques Perrin

WINE TALK
1

The Beaucastel Hommage a Jacques Perrin is one of those wines I have heard about and read about but had never tried. I have had the regular Beaucastel bottling and liked it but the Hommage fell into the too expensive basket. Found this on a restaurant wine list for US$285 and wine searcher told me this was a excellent price so we took the plunge and ordered it. Turned out to be their last bottle.
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The colour was a very youthful dark red, the nose was magnificent mix of wild thyme / garrigue with a nice meaty character and lots of ripe raspberries. The nose was deep, complex and very powerful. One smell told us it was a winner. It smelt so good, you could imagine just enjoying the nose alone without drinking it. The palate was rich and intense and full bodied but with surprising grace and elegance for such a big bodied wine. More of the raspberries on the palate and the meaty umami character added interest and dimension. Still youthful with lots of tannins and structure for the long haul. This came across as either brett free or very low levels of brett, it was all about the wonderful pure fruits. Incredibly easy to enjoy today with the masses of wonderful fruit and the great balance to the wine. I am sure it will be even more amazing in another 10-15 years time. One of the wines that demands your full attention. A great wine and a great experience for the 3 of us drinking it.

cheers Brodie [cheers.gif]

2

Thanks for the great note on a great wine Brodie!
(and quite a find on a restaurant list for that!)

I think that Beaucastel did very well in 2001 for both the regular and HaJP bottlings. I’ve not yet had the courage to open the Hommage, but the regular is one of my favoirte vintages I’ve ever had from them. I am trying to hold til age 20 for the Hommage, but we will see how the resolve goes.

Best,

Todd

3

I just had the same wine the other day, also off a restaurant list for a good price (though not quite that good). I found it much darker-fruited than the raspberry character in your note, and also a bit less primary and with more complexity. Did you notice any excessive alcohol? Someone on the other thread questioned that part of my note.

Opaque crimson with tons of sediment. Extremely potent, complex nose with great Rhone typicity: very dark plum and black cherry fruit, animal, an herbal smell that reminds me of gin (is that juniper?), smoked meat, leather, pepper. Very concentrated and not too tannic. A bit more alcohol than I’d like, and not outright heavy but definitely full-bodied. I was impressed by this, but think I’d like it much more in another 10-15 years once it trades some power for elegance and integration. (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

4

Dan, I did not notice the alcohol as being excessive, since it is a CDNP I allow for and expect a bit more alcohol. I thought it was just fine. On the raspberry note, I may have overstated it somewhat. One of the tasters said “raspberry jam” and it really stuck with me. I probably overlooked the dark fruit profile. I was not taking notes, more about impressions.

cheers Brodie

5

Hi Brodie, sound like a great bottle. Seen the odd bottle come up in auction but they have been expensive, more than what you paid. Cheers Mike

6

Thanks for the note Brodie, I have the normal bottling but the Hommage was a bit of a stretch here, shame it was the last bottle, you could have brought one back…going to have to get Greenhill to crack one of his. [basic-smile.gif]