2018 Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin

WA99 Red-fruited and garrigue-laden, the nose of the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin is glorious, showing remarkable complexity in its notes of cherries, raspberries and strawberries, all accented by hints of bay leaf, lavender and thyme, plus deeper bass notes of black olives, roasted meat, espresso, star anise and dark chocolate. Full-bodied and intense, it seems to have added structure since last year, with a firm matrix of tannins holding it all together and lingering on the lengthy finish. Put this Mourvèdre-based blend (approximately 60%) away for five or more years; it should drink well for a couple of decades beyond that.
When I tasted with Marc Perrin back in 2019, he was insistent that 2018 was a terrific vintage, despite crop losses early in the season. Based on the performance of Beaucastel’s finished wines, his assessment is understandable. The 2018s here are highly successful, showing ample concentration, complexity and length allied to considerable freshness. Yields in some parcels were as low as eight hectoliters per hectare, but the wines aren’t jammy or overly tannic—although they are definitely structured to age.