Robert Parker's Wine Advocate : A tremendous effort, might Beaucastel's 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape outshine even the 2016? I tasted a preliminary blend that Marc Perrin said represented 80% of the wine, and it showed ridiculous floral and fresh aromas of licorice, lavender and spice, all backed by tremendous fruit that went beyond black and red and into hints of exotic stone fruit. The final blend will likely contain more than 10% Counoise, the highest proportion ever utilized at the estate. It's rich and concentrated yet silky and lithe, with a fantastically long, elegant finish.
Blend : 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 10% Vaccarèse/ Terret Noir/ Muscardin/ Clairette/ Picpoul/ Picardan/ Bourboulenc/ Roussanne, 5% Cinsaul.