1995 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin

I like the 1995 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin considerably more than the 1994, but they’re both largely in the same style aromatically, yet the tannins here are more polished and ripe. A blend of 70% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and the rest Counoise brought up in foudre, it offers a full-bodied, ripe, yet always slightly austere style as well as classic Beaucastel gamey, meaty wildness in its ripe dark fruits, black olive, pepper, and garrigue aromas and flavors. This is classic, old school, focused, structured Châteauneuf all the way. It’s fully mature yet has another decade of longevity.

Coming from a vintage that featured a hot summer followed by substantial rain in September that forced vignerons to wait until late September/early October to harvest, the 1995 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage À Jacques Perrin (70% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and 5% Counoise) has the classic Beaucastel funk, with lots of olive tapenade, gamey meat, truffle and sweet currant and cherry fruit. Still structured and firm on the palate, it opens up nicely in the glass, has impressive concentration and a spine of both acidity and tannin that should keep it evolving nicely for another decade or so.

Herbal, scented and meaty. More fruit aroma than on the 2001. Delicate and scented on the mid palate. Very very fine tannins. Lovely harmony and definitely à point . Silky and long. (JH)