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Described as “unquestionably making some of the most profound wines on earth today” by Jeb Dunnuck, the incredibly talented Isabel Ferrando crafted the stunning 98 pt. 2020 Famille Isabel Ferrando Chateauneuf Du Pape to reveal seductive fresh fruit hinting of flinty minerality and spiced garrigue on a backbone of integrated tannins, an outstanding CDP Rouge formerly labeled as Domaine Saint Prefert and without a doubt one of Chateauneuf’s most exceptional values.
Beginning with the release of the 2020 vintage, winemaker and owner Isabel Ferrando incorporated all the grapes from two of her top Saint Prefert cuvees into a singular Chateauneuf du Pape, rebranding the estate under her family name. Known as one of the first estates in the region to bottle its own cuvee in the 1930s, Isabel purchased the historic Saint Prefert at the southern end of the village in 2002, having first honed her skills under renowned Gigondas winemaker Dominique Ay at Domaine Raspail-Ay. Composed of over 22 hectares of organically and biodynamically farmed vineyards with vines ranging to over 100 years of age, Famille Isabel Ferrando is farmed organically and biodynamically, the mostly Grenache vines averaging more than 70 years old with some original Mourvedre from the 1920s, with all thirteen varieties co-planted. Sourced from the Les Serres parcel with fruit that formerly was blended into the Classic, Favier and Giraud cuvees, Isabel fermented the grapes in concrete with native yeasts, then aged each varietal for the powerful 2020 Ferrando CDP Rouge separately in either concrete, amphora or used oak barrels for up to 18 months before blending, yielding fresh, mouth coating fruit with velvety integrated tannins and a long, elegant finish, poised to “easily age for more than a decade” according to the Wine Advocate’s Joe Czerwinski.
Even with the change in the domain name, overwhelming demand for the exceptional 98+ pt. 2020 Famille Isabel Ferrando Chateauneuf du Pape will guarantee a sellout, requiring quick action by Southern Rhone fans and collectors who want to secure a stash of one of the best and most consistent Chateauneuf du Papes out there – as Jeb Dunnuck noted after tasting the newly labeled CDP, “One thing that remains constant is the incredible quality that continues to emerge from this talented winemaker.” |