Châteauneuf du Pape, Hommage à Jacques Perrin, 2012

A blend of 60% Mourvedre with the rest made up of Grenache and Syrah. Always a Mourvedre dominated blend, the Hommage is the result of a careful vineyard selection of Beaucastel’s best fruit always with the Mourvedre element dominating the blend. A maximum of 400 cases a re made each year. The wine is aged, like Beaucastel, in large old wooden foudres but for 8 months longer than Beaucastel itself. 2012 is a great Chateauneuf vintage and this does the year every bit of justice, surly dark fruit liquorice and star anise spice on the nose, the palate is deep and concentrated yet bright and gloriously uplifting. Clean, clear cut flavours not as big or heavy as you might from top Chateauneuf cuvee in a top year and all the better for it, wonderfully fresh peppery dark and red berry fruits, a nice gentle sweetness but not at all cloying. This is a real beauty with a seamless power and energy pulsating right the way through it.