Beatus began with a dream and a friendship. Our dream was to make wine in Châteauneuf du Pape, one of the first regions to inspire the desire to pursue winemaking in general, and of working with Grenache in particular.
We developed a long-standing friendship with Anne-Charlotte Melia-Bachas, Proprietor of Chateau de la Font du Loup, who approached us with the idea to craft a wine together a number of years ago.
This has all come to fruition with Beatus, a wine that we have decided to make ongoing, every year — since tasting the exciting results of the first vintage in barrel.
The vineyard parcel selected for this wine is a single plot of 80-year old Grenache at the top of La Crau in Châteauneuf du Pape, the highest location in the AOC. It sits on a north-facing slope that helps guard against the sometimes intense summer heat that can affect the surrounding areas.
This plot is called “Le Poteau” and has been generously granted to us by Anne-Charlotte as the core of this wine, with supplementation of Syrah and Mourvèdre from surrounding parcels also grown on the Chateau de la Font du Loup estate, to round out the blend.
The winemaking is directed by myself and carried out by Anne-Charlotte, Stéphane Dupuy d’Angeac and their team. It is our hope to bring you one of the finest expressions of Grenache from this special region each and every vintage.
Yields from this block are very small due to the age of the vines, therefore only up to 100 cases of Beatus will be produced each year, depending on the conditions of the vintage.
Our first release was in November of 2022.
– Winemaker Todd Alexander
Review:
Made in collaboration with Chateau de la Font Du Loup, the 2020 Beatus is an extraordinary bottling that rivals some of the top wines of this region. The nose is hugely perfumed with red rose petals, potpourri, sage and shades of red currants. The palate displays the same level of concentration as it does on the bouquet. Beautiful guava and ripe strawberry fruits parade with copious minerals and a sinfully good texture on the palate. Fresh and vibrant, this is just sensational stuff to enjoy in its heady youth.
Owen Bargreen 97 Points
Henriot Brut Souverain is made from 50% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Meunier.
The Brut Souverain is the most historical cuvée in the region, as it was the first cuvée Apolline Henriot produced in 1808. Apolline aspired to put the light on her vineyards through the expression of a champagne. According to her, one year was not enough to tell the story of the terroirs, so she decided to put wines in reserve each year to incorporate them into a future blend. Therefore, she founded the House by creating a Champagne that would have blending as its fundamental principle. The House respects this philosophy today and uses every terroir in this multi-cru, multi-vintage cuvée. It was named Brut Souverain by Ernest Henriot, Apolline's grandson, when the House was appointed the official champagne supplier to the Courts of the King of Holland and of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary.
Review:
A superprecise, reductive style due to bright lime-peel aromas enhanced by chalky minerality with linden tree and yellow plums. Light-bodied, it has zesty acidity with pinprick bubbles, a tight-knit structure and a chewy yet very polished finish.
-James Suckling 95 Points