A friend came over to cook dinner with me and wanted an introduction to Chateauneuf, so we broke out this pair. The Beau was right in the zone from the moment I decanted. The Pegau took a few hours to come around and really seems to want some years in the bottle.
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1990 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (11/28/2009)
Stellar bottle. I have had this wine about 20 times, and this was a great example. An amazing mix of leather, spice, iced tea, Provencale herb, and white pepper. Supple, spicy, energetic, textbook Châteauneuf-du-Pape from a ripe vintage. (95 pts.)
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2003 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (11/28/2009)
Young, smoldering, and reticent. This took a few hours in the decanter to wake up and when it did finally kick in it had loads of beef blood, roast beast, grilled plum, and white pepper. Screaming with potential and painfully young. Wait, wait, wait… (94 pts.)
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BTW, I spent ALL night tossing and turning, deeply worried that MikeL would not approve of my vintage selection of Beaucastel. I surely hope I don’t disappoint him. It matters so much to me…
Nice notes Eric.
Opened my second and last bottle of the '90 Beau in Oct.
What a great freaking wine.
Wished I had some more.
Thanks for the notes.
Yeah, 1990 has been my go-to CDP for a few years. You used to be able to pick it up a few years ago for a song on WineBid and elsewhere, but alas it has gone up in price. It is always just freaking ready to go versus the 1989 which is so much more brooding.
1990 is an amazing vintage for CDP, and the Beaucastel is a great one.
I agree completely. My question is whether the better 2003’s will end up in the same groove in 15 years?
eric, you were an idiot to open up such a young beaucastel, it needs to hit 30 years before its right
in all seriousness, I love the 90 beau. Extremely consistent, for the most part, in being really awesome. I too also wonder about the better 03s, they’re on a very odd evolutionary track and its kinda hard to tell whether they will be extremely good and different down teh road, or if they will just turn into prune juice. May be a case of enjoy while the gettings good
Keith, you forgot to make fun of my name too…
And BTW, you are not entirely wrong on the 30 year joke. While the 1978 Beau is a bit underwhelming (especially given the vintage), the 1979 is in an AMAZING place. I thought about opening that one, but I wanted something with some fruit and weight still. The 1979 is closer to Burgundy at this point whereas the 1990 still has a chewy edge to it (but is thin and elegant when contrasted with a 2003 Pegau in the next glass … which was the point of the exercise). And then there is the 1981 Beau which is still a big monster. I love that one from a good bottle!
I think the secret of the 81 has gotten out, as the price on that one has soared over the past 16 months it seems. Granted, I know that I got mine(and stupid me for not buying more then 1 bottle when I had the chance) for a great price, but now, when I’ve seen it available at retail, its been over 200 easily. I wish that secret didn’t get out and it was still around 140-165 a bottle
I too am worried about the 03s in my limited experience with them.
I’d love to experience a Beaucastel vertical to learn about what their evolutionary track bodes, as I have more experience with their newer vintage and excellent singular experience with older vintages. To taste them together would show what one could expect from the recent trio of good vintages (05,06,07).
Thanks for the notes Eric.
the '67 is still rocking. Bo ages extremely well.
03 Pegau is one I like but as you said very young still. Agree with YB on 67 Beau. Of course, at that age there is a lot of bottle variability.
Two great wines! I bought over a case of the '03 Pegau… and am slightly embarrassed that I only have 3 bottles left. Actually moved the dang things to a friend’s cellar so I wouldn’t be able to get at them…