To affirm one’s individuality and stand by one’s convictions was the guiding philosophy of Jacques Perrin, a visionary and pioneer who left a lasting mark on the history of fine wines. A forerunner of organic farming as early as the nineteen sixties and later of biodynamics from nineteen seventy four onward, he moved against the current of his time to place nature and terroir at the heart of his work. His bold vision restored prestige to Mourvèdre, the ancestral grape variety of Châteauneuf du Pape, which has become the signature of the cuvée Hommage à Jacques Perrin. Created by the fifth generation of the Perrin Family, this cuvée powerfully expresses the legacy of a man deeply connected to the land and its origins. It embodies a wine of conviction, pure, natural and uncompromising, with a unique complexity where aromatic intensity, balance and elegance come together. A true interpretation of the Beaucastel terroir, Hommage à Jacques Perrin is the most authentic expression of a Grand Vin, endowed with remarkable depth and ageing potential.

The 2020 vintage in Southern Rhône was favoured by very good weather conditions, it is an optimal vintage, in terms of quality. Not as hot as in 2019, this year was very windy, throughout the growing cycle, with light rainfalls. After a fairly mild winter (one single episode of frost was noted during the night of March 24, but only the early ripening plots were very slightly affected). The spring was radiant, quite warm and very windy, which allowed the soils to preserve their freshness. Flowering began on May 18, under very healthy conditions. The good weather continued in June, July and August, with plenty heat but lower temperatures than in 2019, cool and humid nights and wind which continued to blow, preserving the freshness of the vines and maintaining perfect sanitary conditions for the grapes. The harvest, which was fairly early, therefore began under these very good conditions on August 26 with the white Côtes-du-Rhône and continued until the end of September with the Mourvèdre. September was warm at the beginning of the month and then more temperate, offering idyllic harvest conditions and allowed each plot to be harvested at perfect maturity. The harvest was very healthy with beautiful juicy and very ripe grapes, reasonable alcohol levels, good acidity and already a great balance.

In the northern part of the Châteauneuf du Pape appellation, Château de Beaucastel stretches over 110 hectares in a single continuous block, emblematic of the great terroirs of the region. The soils combine rolled pebbles on the surface with clay, sand and limestone at depth, offering remarkable richness. The old vines, cultivated organically for more than fifty years, sink their roots deep into the ground and express the full diversity of the thirteen grape varieties permitted by the appellation. In the cuvée Hommage à Jacques Perrin, the predominance of Mourvèdre at sixty percent combined with Grenache at twenty percent and Syrah at twenty percent gives the wine its identity and distinctive signature.

Born under the lucky star of a superb vintage, the cuvée Hommage à Jacques Perrin 2020 is a model of voluptuousness and generosity. The wine displays a dazzling deep, dark red colour with purple hues. Powerful, voluptuous and eminently elegant, the nose reveals a magnificent aromatic bouquet with notes of fully ripe fruit, black cherry and spices. On the palate, it opens with roundness and presents powerful, velvety tannins that are delicately integrated. It offers magnificent rich and silky flavours, including liquorice which beautifully highlights the dominant presence of Mourvèdre, along with a deliciously fleshy and generous yet subtle and airy texture. The finish is simply wonderful with exceptional length. A truly great year for Hommage à Jacques Perrin.