Château de Beaucastel’s Roussanne Vieilles Vignes is a rare, idiosyncratic and special wine. Made from the oldest vines on the property, this honey coloured, textural and powerful white is invariably one of the Rhône's best.
The source of the fruit is a four hectare plot on the Beaucastel estate to the north of the appellation. The vines are old and yields are naturally low– around 15hl/ha, which makes for an average annual production of 6,000 bottles or so. We have just taken our allocation of the 2024 vintage.
As is almost always the case, critical acclaim is strong. Jeb Dunnuck “another heavenly white from this team that should have 20-30 years of longevity” and Matt Walls “Powerful but very tense, showing lovely intensity and salinity” both rate the wine 98 points. Yohan Castaing for the Wine Advocate is at 97: “it’s a terrific white wine—and a strong contender for wine of the vintage”. Alistair Cooper MW for jancisrobinson.com scores it 18+: “Such texture and intensity – remarkable”.
The critics all allude to the wine's longevity, though what sets it apart for us is that it is one of the great white wines of the world that can be opened and enjoyed from the off. We will be collecting from the estate this month and the wine will be with us in November.
Made from all very old Roussanne from a single parcel just behind the château, the 2024 Châteauneuf Du Pape Roussanne Vieille Vignes offers a gorgeous nose of ripe quince, toasted bread, white flowers, spice, and crushed stone. Richer and fuller than the regular cuvée, it's medium to full-bodied, with a deep, layered, opulent mouthfeel, beautifully integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's another heavenly white from this team that should have 20-30 years of longevity. Drink 2025-2054.
The nutty notes, almond and dried fruits really stand out. A hugely concentrated palate with such incredible depth – marzipan, pear, chamomile and almost sweet fruit on the finish. Such texture and intensity – remarkable. A creaminess and a richness on the dense finish. 2027-2042.
Citrussy aromatics this year – satsuma and pink grapefruit with a touch of pickled ginger. Powerful but very tense, showing lovely intensity and salinity. Vibrant, not overly fat or alcoholic and the oak is well judged. You could drink this now, but it will age very well. Matured in 50% new and 50% one-year-old barrels. 2026-2050.
The 2024 Chateauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes is broad and dramatic, bursting with aromas of smoke, spices, ripe white fruits, confit citrus and nutmeg. Full-bodied, layered and unctuous, with a fleshy, enveloping core of fruit framed by saline acidity, it’s a terrific white wine—and a strong contender for wine of the vintage. 2028-2044.
