Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape 2010

Interestingly enough, even though many of the 2010 Perrin et Fils selections from the southern Rhone were scheduled to be bottled right after my visit, the 2010 Beaucastel had already been put in bottle. This is a gorgeous wine, a classic blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise and the balance the other permitted varietals in the appellation. Deep purple, with loads of bouquet garni, beef blood, blackberry, kirsch, smoke and truffle, this wine is full-bodied, rich and showing even better than it did last year. I still think it needs 3-5 years of cellaring, and it should last for 25-30 years, as most of the top vintages of Beaucastel do. (95) ROBERT PARKER

(roughly 30% each of grenache and mourvèdre, with 10% each of counoise and syrah and the balance "everything else"):  Vivid ruby.  Fresh raspberry and cherry on the intensely perfumed nose.  Sappy and sweet, with deep red fruit preserve flavors and hints of succulent herbs and rose pastille.  Packs a punch but also shows impressive energy and balance.  The raspberry note carries through on the finish, which also features a suave, slow-building note of star anise. TANZER