2000 Coudoulet De Beaucastel, Cotes Du Rhone Rouge

Dark ruby, slightly cloudy in color. This has a big meaty nose of blackberries, red licorice and spice. On the palate the black cherry and black berry flavors dominate with a touch of pepper. The finish features ripe berry and spice flavors that are very well balanced.. Nice length as well. This is a solid 90 points------drink now.


P5

I've had several bottles of this wine over the last few years and have really been blown away by it - really have enjoyed this wine (reletively cheap and very full bodied with great fruit - an accesable Beaucastel with much of the flavor profile (though not the concentration/power) of the CDP even lacking the full blend...that being said - the last one I opened - perhaps a month ago - was starting a very noticible downhill slide and had lost much of its fruit. Maybe it was that particular bottle but I went from being sad that it was my last (2000) to greatful that I could now start on my 2001s! (though the 2001 I opened towards the end of December didn't seem as rich and flavorful as the 2000 and it was notcibly more acidic...not bad though - but where I'd put the 2000 in the low 90s I felt the 2001 was perhaps a mid-upper 80s wine...at least the one I've had thus far...