Château Beauchêne, Chateâuneuf-du-Pape, Rhone
The Bernard family not only have one of the most beautiful properties in the Southern Rhône, they have also created one of the truly great family domaines. The family has lived in Orange since the 17th century; originally tenant farmers, they profited from the social upheavals of the French Revolution buying their first vineyard, still in use today, soon after the conflict in 1794. Since 1971 Michel Bernard has run the domaine with his wife Dominique and in 2004 their eldest daughter, Amandine, joined the board ensuring another generation of the Bernard family will carry on the great tradition.
Today, Château Beauchêne, located in Piolenc around 5 km north of Orange, has become the hub for the vinification and maturation of all the cuvées from the different vineyards owned by the family. They make wines from 80 hectares of vines in three appellations with some vineyards of Châteauneuf being over 100 years old. Vinification is generally done with de-stemmed grapes and skin maceration appropriate to the nature of the fruit (up to 20 days for Châteauneuf wines.) A small proportion of new oak is used for the top crus, however oak treatment is used as a tool rather than a flavouring element at this estate. The wines are elegant, well structured and true to type
The vineyards are tended in accordance with 'lutte raisonée' (minimal intervention) principles with a view to becoming fully organic.
Rich but restrained tropical notes and a heady aroma of blossom, vanilla and spice on the nose. The palate is surprisingly fine, with elegant fruit and acidity and a complex and lengthy finish.
A clean, bright fruity wine showing lots of red fruit and a hint of violet on the nose and a delicious fresh palate and juicy, ripe tannins.
Very serious nose of damsons, spice and liquorice, coupled to a fine structure, youthful tannins and ripe fleshy fruit. The wine is made from specific crus of the estate and is fermented and aged in stell, with some oaked wine being added from the Chateauneuf crus.
Age has been kind to this wine from an exceptional vintage, being very hot and dry. The wine has surprising lightness of touch being fine and developed around the silky tannins and long rich finish.
Classic wine, rose petals, tar and spice with dense damson and prune fruit and firm structure and solid fruit showing the evolution of 18 months in oak barrel. The vineyards are dotted around the appellation and the wine is blended of Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre, with varieties playing a minor role. Around 30% new oak is used for the barrel ageing.