Opened a bottle last night (October 2011) and this wine is doing very very well. Truly outstanding - deep, rich, complex. A beautiful wine. Open today without fear as it is fantastic.

Even at $30 for a CDR, it's a bargain. could easily be a $50 - $60 CNDP. Silky smooth, very spicy, opulent, rich, full of licorice and black fruit. Still lots of tannins, but drinking nicely now and will only improve. Outstanding finish for an outstanding wine.

Dont be fooled by the price, this is a very refined and tasty wine, made in a typical southern Rhone style, i often here people refer to this offering as the second wine of Chateau Beaucastel which is not true! the producer is certainly the same however the coudoulet actually comes from a vineyard accross the street which is not located in the Chateneuf du pape appellation and as a result it has very similar flavours but at a fraction of the cost, i tried one bottle and liked it so much i bought 2 cases!