Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin Grande Cuvée 2009

Potentially the wine of the vintage, the 2009 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin had just been bottled two weeks before my visit. A wine of extraordinary density, richness, precision and unreal flavor intensity, it reveals abundant gamey, meaty notes intermixed with smoked duck, Provencal herbs, blueberries, blackberries, kirsch and licorice. This loaded, multidimensional, massively concentrated 2009 is much softer than most Hommages. It should be drinkable in 3-4 years and keep for 30-40 years thereafter. Kudos to one of the world's great winemaking families!

Very dense, with Turkish coffee, roasted alder and allspice notes out front, followed by a huge core of Black Mission fig, crushed black currant and black licorice notes. The long finish lets loam and ganache flavors stride through, showing cut and precision. This has serious power and intensity, and should cruise easily in the cellar. Best from 2017 through 2030.