Château de Beaucastel

Château de Beaucastel is one of the most recognisable fine wines in the world. The historic Perrin family, the name behind the famous label, have been making sought-after wines from their 110-hectares of vineyards in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Southern Rhône for generations. Marc Perrin, the current incumbent, is the fifth generation of the family to lead the estate. Although Beaucastel makes wine in surrounding appellations, including a Gigondas from old-vine Grenache - Domaine du Clos des Tourelles - it is their Châteauneuf-du-Pape which defines them. The estate is famous for using all original 13 grape varieties permitted for Châteauneuf-du-Pape (those 13 were recently increased to 18), and for the high proportion of the late-ripening Mourvèdre that makes up part of its blend. They were one of the first estates in the region to convert to organic farming, and then biodynamic. Their Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blancs are as worthy of attention as the reds, particularly the Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, which might just be the most famous wine in the Southern Rhône.