TN: 2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape

WINE TALK
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  • 2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (11/23/2009)
    This as a GREAT baby-killing of a young beast of a wine. Great nose, smoke, mineral, truffle, mint, and black pepper. Crazily complex, earthy, pure and intense. Great palate, very tightly wound, a gorgeous core of fruit to this, embryonic Beaucastel flavors, bitter chocolate, cranberry. Smacks of young Mourvedre. Gorgeous young wine.
    DAY 2: Kept about 1/5 of the bottle overnight. Still quite fresh, bright red fruit, not showing any oxidation. Really great young Beau. (94 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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BABY KILLER!

It does sound good though. :slight_smile:

I’m looking forward to these.

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Eric,

Sounds great. I was a little nervous about the '05 after I opened a bottle upon release two years ago (I tend to buy a case + a 750 each year).

4

I usually never touch young Beaucastel (less than 15 years old) young except for the 1998 and 2000, but for some reason I have 2 cases of this one. Plus the notes on CT looked really tempting, so I figured why not? This was definitely a case where the community nailed it, very glad I killed this one. Obviously this is a wine where patience will be required, but it has a lovely core.

5

I have some of the 05 but haven’t cracked one yet; now I think I must! Coincidentally, had the '98 last night and it was rocking too! Thanks for the note, Eric!

6

Thanks Eric, the Coudoulet CdR from that vintage was a real winner too.

7

Wilf, just note the “tightly wound” mention in my note. This is far from effusive right now, not like popping a young, rambunctious Pegau.

8

As the blend at Ch. Beaucastel, has 30% Mourvedre, usually, after the first decade it starts showing the broader picture.

9

Ridiculous to drink that wine now

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Eric I have loved Beaus for nearly 30 years. 2001 was my last vintage purchased since I really didn’t want to wait until I was 70 to drink them. I am shocked, dare I say shocked that the 05 a notoriously tannic and backward vintage showed this well this early. I only wish that I had room to buy a few. headbang
Best jack

11

Well then I am ridiculous. And apparently it was ridiculous for me to enjoy it. Did you see the part where I mentioned I had 2 cases. And I was intrigued by many reviews on CellarTracker that mention this being surprisingly enjoyable at this stage. My bottle fit that. I have had many dozen older Beau’s and know exactly what they turn into. Sometimes it is fun to kill a baby.

12

Well, I guess that I am even more ridiculous than you Eric. I popped my sacrificial bottle of the '07 Beaucastel last night. Like you, I really enjoy watching a wine like this develop and I always pop one bottle of Beau early. It was stunning btw - surpassing my early enjoyment of the '01. Now, the debate begins about picking up a second case.

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I knew that was coming. [rofl.gif]

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No I think an idiot would be one who thinks his tastes are right while someone elses are wrong. You are entitled to your opinion but, make an effort to be polite. If you can’t, move on.

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Agreed. If he’d taken on anyone but Eric it might have been okay, including my favorite whipping boy Gordon Fitz, but Eric’s our poster boy and therefore untouchable in my book. Leave Eric alone! [berserker.gif]

16

How very polite. Quite lovely. Sheesh, chill out dude or stop letting your cat piss in your Wheaties, as it clearly seems to affect your mood.

17

Actually Eric, I think the post in question is disgusting and the poster should remove it. Failing that, I hope a mod will remove it and make a suggestion, privately, to the poster that he should refrain from posting if this is the best he can do.

18

Scott, I tend to agree, but I was trying to be funny about it. MikeL is clearly having a bad day or bad week or something.

19

Fair enough but, even if I may consider myself an idiot privately, I don’t believe it appropriate to call myself such out loud in public. [wink.gif]

20

Was this a joke or something?