The 2016 Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape is a red wine blend from the renowned Southern Rhone region of France. Produced by Chateau de Beaucastel, this vintage is a proprietary blend primarily composed of 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Counoise, with the remainder being other permitted varieties. The wine is bottled with a cork closure and has an alcohol content of 14%.
This wine has received remarkable acclaim from various professional reviewers. Jeb Dunnuck awarded it a score of 96, noting its "ripe, sexy, rounded style" and highlighting its structural complexity and deep minerality. Dunnuck remarked that it "offers a ripe, sexy, rounded style that quickly shows more structure, minerality, and tannin with time in the glass," predicting that it would benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and keep for two decades (jebdunnuck.com).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated the 2016 Chateau Beaucastel with an impressive 97 points. Reviewer Joe Czerwinski described it as "full-bodied, creamy, lush and rich, with layers of raspberry fruit, garrigue, and spice that unfold across a seamless palate." He emphasized the wine's potential to go through various cycles of being open and closed throughout its lifespan (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate).
James Suckling was particularly enthusiastic, scoring it 99 points. Nick Stock of JamesSuckling.com described it as "a stunning Beaucastel" with "a superb array of fruit, ranging from red, through to blue, darker purple and black." Stock also highlighted its impeccable balance, super-silky tannins, and an extraordinarily long finish (JamesSuckling.com).
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com gave this vintage 98 points, praising its aromatic complexities and describing it as "polished, deep, fresh, concentrated and sweet" with a "clean palate of fruits." Leve also noted that Marc Perrin considers this the best wine produced at Beaucastel since the 1989 and 1990 vintages (TheWineCellarInsider.com).
Decanter also rated it highly at 96 points, appreciating its tightly wound nose, fresh black fruits, and underlying herbal seam. The publication noted it was "beautifully textured, very straight in style, with great length and energy" (Decanter).
Wine Spectator awarded it 97 points, describing it as "youthfully reticent, but warm and polished in feel," with a large core of cassis, raspberry, and cherry puree notes. The reviewer suggested that it would be best enjoyed from 2023 through 2040 (Wine Spectator).
Overall, the 2016 Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape is a highly praised vintage with great aging potential, complexity, and balance, making it a noteworthy addition to any serious wine collection.