Château de Beaucastel is situated on the east side of Châteauneuf near Courthézon. The Domaine is owned by François and Jean-Pierre Perrin and consists of 70 hectares made up of 30% Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, with the rest being planted with the appellation’s ten other permitted grape varieties. In every way it sets itself apart from its local rivals; from an unusually low proportion of Grenache for today’s average Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer, to the unique thermo-vinification process involving a short intense burst of heat during fermentation in order to aid extraction of colour and flavour from the grapes while killing harmful bacteria. These elements, and the Perrin’s unwaivering determination for perfection, result in one of the Rhône’s most complex and long lived wines.