Domaine de Ferrand Chateauneuf du Pape 2018

Philippe is making one of the finest examples of essentially old vine Grenache wines in the world today, fermented in open concrete cuve beton and aged in tank it is a wine of considerable style and grace and despite all the plaudits, it remains priced very fairly indeed. This 2018 is another great release from Philippe in fact, this the second part of our allocation has meant that I have been able to sit with this wine a few times and can say that I think it is my favorite vintage he has made so far (like Foillard's miracle in 2016's hail)  and it will obviously repay careful cellaring handsomely.

Tasted from tank this year in January it has a very vibrant and aromatic array of red fruit and flowers with an attractive lift of raspberries and red plums, as well as spiced herbs and garrigue. The palate has a very sapid and assertive, red-cherry core with a thread of tannin that enables to wine to carry long in the mouth. This has power yet is elegant and has a vibrant beauty. Like his friend and neighbour, Laurent Charvin, Philippe uses no oak in this wine, only concrete and tanks. Importer notes.