Beaulieu 2020

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 One of the most exciting things about working with wine is to come across its multiple facettes and how human interference on the fermentation process can produce such different and surprising results.  

It has also been quite interesting to follow how knowledge has been reopening older styles of producing wine such as the one that I want to write about today.

Having its origins in Georgia for over 6000 years, producing wine in clay amphorae is becoming more and more popular all around the world barely surprising the most common of wine drinkers, having become a viable option to age or even ferment wine instead of the more common oak barriques or stainless steel. 

To know more about it, I recommend you this article by Vero Vino.

But going to this Beaulieu. 

In the mouth it is incredibly fresh with vigorous tannins that develop into some earthy notes as you let it breath.  It can be the power of suggestion, but I have felt some terracota notes on it. That combined with some slight black pepper flavour, matches in a divine way.

The typical black berries of Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon are very well defined and integrated, making it a never ending interesting wine which can open your palate to an enormous range of pairings. From traditional game to some vegetables with a stronger character such as wild asparagus. 

Even though I have opened it to accompany a risotto, I do have kept a bit to have it solo as I dug into Mia Couto's Mapeador de Ausencias which is one of the most fascinating books I have recently read. Set in different times, we are transported to Couto's magic realism and infinitely poetic language which is still making me dream awake whenever I have the pleasure of laying my eyes on his words.

A small curiosity, before finishing, is the fact that only 5% of the wine has Syrah even though Ardèche is its birthplace.


17/20
Country: France
Region: Rhone
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah
13,5%
Winemaker: Florence and Benoit Chazallon
Website:https://www.chateau-de-la-selve.fr/vin/beaulieu/

Location: Hamburg, Germany

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