Domaine de Beaurenard, property of the Coulon family, affirms its singularity within the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation through the diversity of its soils, its culture of complanted grape varieties, and its biodynamic farming.
“Le Boisrenard” is made from a selection of old vines where the 13 grape varieties are planted together. A wine of great depth.
The 2022 vintage is very much in line with the superb, luminous vintages that we experienced in 2017 and 2019. The abundant rain that fell in the autumn of 2021, replenishing the groundwater reserves, was an essential element of its success. The winter was quite dry, and a strong Mistral wind in the first days of April prevented new episodes of frost. It set the rhythm for what turned out to be a dry and relatively mild winter,
with less than 50mm of rainfall between March and May. The summer was characterized by extreme drought, with temperatures that were certainly high, but not excessive, notably thanks to the cool nights. Thanks to their deep rooting systems, structured soils, and cover crops that limited the amount of evapotranspiration from the soil, the vines were able to continue their growing cycle without incident to produce grapes
at perfect maturity.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape was also touched by three heavy hailstorms, on June 5 and 24 and again on August 14, that swept across certain sectors of the appellation causing limited damage to the west-facing parts of some of our parcels. The damage caused by the brutal storm of August 14, particularly worrying given the proximity to the harvest, was fortunately restricted to certain areas, and immediately attenuated by the drying effect of the Mistral which began blowing following day. This kept the grapes healthy, warding off the development of rot and starting the healing process for the wood, essential for next year’s vintage.
With hindsight we can see that the way we manage our vineyards - with plant infusions, high density planting, choice of orientation of the rows, no trimming, and use of cover crops, etc., -was once again invaluable in attaining optimum ripeness and the purest expression of our
terroirs. Harvesting took place in good conditions between August 26 and October 6.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is characterized by the diversity of its soils, with a mosaic of plots where different varieties grow together on limestone rock, round pebbles on a clay substrate with varying amounts of iron, and fine sedimentary sand.
Selected plots, of mainly old vines of the 13 varieties of the appellation planted together, predominantly Grenache.
WinemakingThe grapes are hand-picked and sorted in the vineyard. Co-fermentation, long vatting for soft extractions.
AgeingMatured for 12 months in conical vats, foudres and barrels.
The smaller production 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Boisrenard comes from a field blend of 80% Grenache, 3% Mourvèdre, 2% Syrah, 1% Clairette Rose, 1% Cinsault, and the rest a mix of varieties that was aged mostly in concrete. It has a Grand Cru Red Burgundy like vibe in its structure and texture, and it’s medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, and flawlessly
balanced, with a darker edge to its ripe black cherry, leather, scorched earth, and sappy garrigue-driven aromas and flavors. I love its mid-palate as well as its tannins, and the purity here is something to behold. Give bottles 3-5 years if you can.
Jeb Dunnuck
, 95-97
Considerably riper and deeper than the standard Châteauneuf-du-Pape this year, with good dark-fruit density and concentration. It’s very ripe but not overly so, with slightly elevated alcohol, good acidity and a fresh finish. It has more intensity than most 2023s, and more structure. Grown across a mix of soils in lieux-dits Beaurenard, Cabrières and Côteau de l’Ange; aged in foudre (except for just 2% in new oak barriques).
Matt Walls
Decanter
, 96
A really dense and compact core of fruit here is supported by well-judged sandy and textured tannins. Very tightly coiled and feels that it is just waiting to show itself over the next decade. Lovely intensity and concentration of dark fruits and a very long and broad attractive finish.
Jancis Robinson
, 17
