More wines available from Chateau De Beaucastel
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$349.21
Rated 96 - Even richer and more concentrated than the 2011, the blockbuster-styled 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is...
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$103.28
Rated 97 - At the moment the aromatics are mostly centred around nutty oak and appealing scents of millefeuille...
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$195.54
Rated 98 - The limited cuvee of 100% old vine Roussanne (50% vinified in barrel and 50% in tank), the 2006...
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$180.95
Rated 99 - The finest bottle I’ve had of the 2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, this incredible...
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$351.95
Rated 100 - Drinking at point, the absolutely stunning 2009 Châteauneuf Du Pape Roussanne Vielles Vignes shows how...
More Details
Winery
Chateau De Beaucastel
Vintage: 2008
2008 saw very high yields across wineries in much of the southern hemisphere, as a result of highly favorable climatic conditions. Although in many areas, these high yields brought with them something of a drop in overall quality, this could not be said for South Australia's wines, which were reportedly excellent. Indeed, the 2008 Shiraz harvest in South Australia is said to be one of the most successful in recent decades, and western Australia's Chardonnays are set to be ones to watch out for. New Zealand's Pinot Noir harvest was also very good, with wineries in Martinborough reportedly very excited about this particular grape and the characteristics it revealed this year.
Pinot Noir also grew very well in the United States, and was probably the most successful grape varietal to come out of California in 2008, with Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley delivering fantastic results from this grape. Elsewhere in United States, Washington State and Oregon had highly successful harvests in 2008 despite some early worries about frost.
However, it was France who had the best of the weather and growing conditions in 2008, and this year was one of the great vintages for Champagne, the Médoc in Bordeaux, Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, with Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes leading the way. Italy, too, shared many of these ideal conditions, with the wineries in Tuscany claiming that their Chianti Classicos of 2008 will be ones to collect, and Piedmont's Barberesco and Barolo wines will be recognized as amongst the finest of the past decade.
Region: Rhone Valley
In southern France, one of the primary wine regions responsible for the production of a fine and varied range of wines is the Rhone Valley. Split into two large sub-regions, this expansive valley benefits from micro-climates which allow the wineries to grow a vast array of fine grape varietals. The northern region is the more limited one in regards to the amount of varietals grown, focusing predominantly on raising excellent quality Syrah, Marsanne, Roussane and Viognier vines for their distinctive and elegant range of wines. The southern region, on the other hand, has a beautifully Mediterranean climate, and is home to dozens of grape varietals which are used to produce white, red and rosé wines, alongside some of the most famous and widely loved blended wines in the world.
Country: France
French winemakers are subjected to several laws and regulations regarding the wines they produce, and how they can be labeled and sold. Such procedures are designed to increase the overall quality of the country's produce, and also to ensure that wines made in each particular region or appellation are of a character and type which is representative of the area. Thankfully for consumers of wine world-wide, the French have a particularly high reputation to uphold, and seem to do so flawlessly. Every year, wineries from all over France produce millions upon millions of bottles of fine wine, making the most of their native grape varieties and the excellent terrain which covers most of the country. From the expensive and exquisite red wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, to the white wines and cremants of central France, the French are dedicated to providing the world with wines of the highest quality and most distinctive character.