There are always winners and losers with wine appellations. Vineyards that manage to sneak in. Or vineyards that don't quite make it. Coudoulet is a great example.
Coudoulet is not far from the renowned Beaucastel Vineyard, but it falls just outside of Chateauneuf du Pape, in the broader Cotes du Rhone. Between Coudoulet and Beaucastel, there are more similarities than differences. Yet the loser here is the Famille Perrin.
Cotes du Rhones typically sell for a fraction of the price of Chateauneuf du Pape. And that's the case for the so-called Baby Beaucastal, too. It's far from a "second" wine, though. It has its own unique character and identity, and there's a reason it's a favourite among savvy collectors.
Tasting Note
A 40/30/20/10 blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, and Cinsault, this shows the ripeness of the 2019 vintage with sweet, ripe dark fruits that range from blackberry to plum to blueberry. The savouriness of these varieties also comes through, with layers of spice, earth, and game, that are joined by the garrigue of the Southern Rhone. Richly concentrated with fine tannins, this is drinking well now but will reward careful cellaring for 5-10 years.
Food Pairing
Dry-rub ribs