Ooh baby, baby… baby Beaucastel Alert!

Ahem. If you’re not already on the Châteauneuf bandwagon, that name may be unfamiliar. If so, let this thought sink in for a minute – all the way back to a 1974, OVER 50 of their wines have garnered 95-100 scores from Wine Advocate, including a handful of 100 pointers. If you’re the collector type, we have just a few of one of THOSE perfect wines in the Store to celebrate today, hint, hint…

Anyhow, in comparison to their heavy hitters that go for just about 20 times what you’re paying for this little gem here today, this truly is cut of the same cloth, made under the same obsessive attention to detail and respect for origin. The only catch here is that this is a Cairanne, not a Châteauneuf. Look the other way and you can’t tell from the quality, intensity, and balance you get to expect from a Famille Perrin, which are all there with this classic single vineyard Southern Rhône red blend.

The gentle bricking on the translucent rim turns deep garnet at heart. The nose offers up pure, strikingly perfumy raspberry compote, joined by loamy soil notes and spices. At once lively and with supple and complex tannins on the palate, this is both playful and serious. Sneakily long on the finish too for an offering under $20, barely showing age with potential to improve. Stuff a chicken or game, with herbs, or even better truffles, roast to perfection, kick back and enjoy the night!

Antonio Galloni’s Vinous aptly notes that “The Perrin family, owners of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s famed Château de Beaucastel, have invested outside of Châteauneuf in a big way in recent years. Their commitment is already delivering huge dividends for Rhône wine lovers.”

So “Rhône wine lovers” you hear that? Get clickin’ here now, gone when gone.

91 Points – The Tasting Panel

“Mouth-filling raspberry and black currant fruit with notes of earth and spice - a baby Châteauneuf, charming and complete.”

90 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“Full ruby. Smoke-accented black currant and cherry on the fragrant nose; zesty minerality adds lift and vivacity. Supple and expansive, offering lively dark fruit and floral pastille flavors and an exotic, refreshingly bitter blood orange nuance. Finishes with very good focus, building tannins and a hint of lavender pastille. Drink 2017-2021.”

90 Points – International Wine Report

“The 2013 ‘Peyre Blanche’ from Familie Perrin is an excellent effort from a challenging vintage in the Rhône Valley. On the nose this starts off with white pepper, red cherry cordial and wild thyme aromas that impress in the glass… the palate is silky smooth, showing a soft mouthfeel. Herbes de Provence, roasted dates with cranberry and cherry flavors all collide. Drinking marvelously now, this will continue to evolve over the next five plus years.”