This has an exotic bent at first, as it offers up a lovely gush of crushed plum, boysenberry and blackberry fruit flavors, laced seamlessly with sweet black licorice. Then this gains in depth and grip as it moves through the finish, showing accents of apple wood, leather and Turkish coffee and ending dark and winey in feel. Built for the cellar. Best from 2023 through 2040. 52 cases imported. — JM

A great vintage for mourvedre in 2017, it represents 60% of this blend. Picked late, at the beginning of October, this has a very rich, dark-stone, leather, grilled-meat and slate nose with black fruit and wild herbs. The palate has a rich, smooth and long core of noble tannin with a wealth of dark cherries and dark plums. Long, suave tannins command the finish, where there’s a a late kick of spice. Good potential, ripeness and concentration. As with the regular Beaucastel Châteauneuf, the intensity and plushness of tannin is a highlight here. Try from 2025.

Glass-staining ruby. Dark berry preserves, cherry cola, Moroccan spices and licorice on the intensely perfumed, mineral-accented nose. Palate-staining, sharply focused black/blue fruit, spicecake and candied violet flavors show superb energy for their depth. Picks up mocha and succulent herb nuances with air. it finishes extremely long and smoky, with resonating floral and spice notes and mounting tannins. Josh Raynolds

The 2017 has great ripeness, but not overripeness, and impressive purity. The Mourvèdre is strongly present, to the fore but well balanced with the other varieties. A little dark chocolate is perceptible but very much on the fruit at time of tasting. The elements sit somewhat apart at the moment, but all in good balance. Restrained and orderly, it has weight but not heaviness. Tannins are dense, a little gruff, textural. Good length, gently tapers on the finish. The alcohol is slightly warming on the finish but this has real depth and great potential. Certainly warmer and riper than the 2016. Drinking Window 2026 - 2042
Tasted by Matt Walls (at Château de Beaucastel, 17 Dec 2019)
Part of Château de Beaucastel Hommage à Jacques Perrin complete vertical: 1989 – 2017

On another level, the brilliant 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin is just about all Mourvèdre (there are small amounts of Grenache, Syrah, and Counoise) brought up in a large foudre. It reveals a saturated purple color as well as a super-rich, blockbuster-styled bouquet of blackcurrants, blackberries, ground pepper, truffle, charcuterie, and God knows what else. With full-bodied richness, a stacked, opulent mid-palate, building tannins, and a sensational finish, it’s another perfect wine from this team and is unquestionably in the same realm as the 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2016. Give bottles 7-8 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 40-50 years.