Wine Tasting at Chateau Beauchene

Chateau Beauchene  is a beautiful vineyard in Piolenc France near Orange. While Piolenc is quite small  it does have a beautiful Arch in the center of town.

The Chateau dates back to the XVIII and the Bernard Family has an even longer wine history.  The family began to grow grapes in 1794 after the French Revolution.
Today there are more than 80 hectares of vines.  The main production is Cotes du Rhone but 6 hectares are Chateauneuf du Pape.
The view towards the Chateau is beautiful, it is surrounded by vineyards.  There  are wonderful formal gardens near the Chateau.

Behind the wall are beautiful formal gardens

Michel Bernard  took over the family property  in 1971 and made the Chateau the center of wine making with over 80 hectares (160 acres) of vines.

Michel and Dominique Bernard manage the vineyards and wine making and Amandine Bernard is the export manager.  Wine tasting with the Bernard's is always an adventure.  The portfolio of wines is large and each offering is excellent.

The grounds at the Chateau were always beautiful; the tasting room is modern, spacious and comfortable. Just inside, the wine production area is modern  and spotless. 

In 2012 a renovation project sought to restore the old chateau just

behind the main Chateau  from the 1300's to its original grandeur.  The kitchen and dining area was painstakingly restored and definitely worth a visit!

Another new adventure was  preparing the salon for weddings.  Several weddings are held each year in the incredible space.

The wines of Chateau Beauchene are extraordinary, made with care and expertise.  The portfolio is extensive, reds, whites and roses.

Chateauneuf du Pape is the most famous wine of the southern Rhone.  The appellation is the "New Chateau of the Pope".  The Pope was in residence in Avignon and summered here among the grape vines in the 1300's. There isn't much left of  the Chateau, just one wall is standing but the vineyards are amazing.

Thirteen grapes can be used in CNDP but Grenache is the main grape in  Beauchene's Grande Reserve CNDP at 80%, 15% is Syrah, and 5 % Mouvedre.  The wine  is velvety smooth with ripe red and black fruit as well as mocha, spice, and oak.

Premier Terroir is an interesting wine.  At one point the grapes were considered in CNDP but new lines were drawn by the French Government and these parcels just across a small dirt path were excluded and said to be outside the boundaries of CNDP.  This wine is from the oldest of the vineyard planted in 1905. The grapes are 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah ,5% Mourvedre.  This wine is full bodied,  rich, smooth and fruity.  it tastes of black fruit and figs and ages well.  A fabulous wine for the price.

Grand Reserve Viognier is the green bottle on the right.

This is my all time favorite white wine.  It is 100% Viognier grape andis low in acidity and  tastes very round in the mouth.  One can taste taste  pear, apricots and apples. 

Le Pavillon, in the middle, is a fruity rose is composed of Cinsault 60%, Syrah 30%, and Grenache 10%.  It is clear pink and has a bouquet of strawberry and raspberry.  Simple and delicious. 

The Cotes du Rhone Village  on the left is Grenache 60%, Syrah 25%, Mouvedre 10%, and Carignan 5%.  The taste is ripe red fruit but light and elegant not overwhelming.

To see all the portfolio of wines visit the Beauchene Web site.