And last of the 2012 Famille Perrin releases, the 2012 Famille Perrin Vinsobres Les Haut de Julien Vieilles Vignes comes from 90-year-old vines from the northern part of the Southern Rhone. Aged 15% in barrel and a blend of Syrah and Grenache, it gives up rich, meaty Syrah-driven notes of smoky black fruits, licorice, cedar and earthiness, with an almost Cornas like rusticity. Medium-bodied, structured and tannic, give it a couple of years and enjoy it through 2022 or so. Drink 2015-2022. Covering a full 175 acres in Chateauneuf du Pape, with significant holdings throughout the Southern Rhone (mostly vinified at and released under their Famille Perrin brand), Chateau De Beaucastel is a benchmark estate that excels at all price points. Looking at the wines reviewed here, 2011 is surprisingly strong (especially for the Chateauneufs) and with their perfumed aromatics and supple textures, they show a lot of similarities to the 2009s. The 2012s as a whole show more freshness and purity, with good concentration, and should require more bottle age to come around. Both vintages are worth seeking out. Looking at the 2011s across the board, all of which were in bottle, it appears to be a strong vintage here. While the vintage suffered due to uneven ripening in the Grenache, it was actually a solid vintage for Mourvedre and this shows, particularly in the Chateauneufs. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802