Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge

2020
France
Rhône

This cuvee comes entirely from the Les Serres parcel and is primarily the fruit that used to make up the “Favier” and “Giraud” wines. 100% whole cluster made mostly in demi-muids; some amphora and glass demi-johns are also used. 75% old-vine Grenache, 12% Cinsault, 11% Mourvedre, and 2% Syrah.

98+ points
"Now the flagship of this estate, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is 75% Grenache and the rest Cinsault, Mourvedre, and a little Syrah. Sporting a deep ruby/purple hue, it offers a beautiful array of black raspberry and darker cherry fruit as well as lots of graphite, chalky minerality, Provençal garrigue, and spice. Beautiful on the palate as well, this medium to full-bodied effort has a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, rock-solid underlying structure and concentration, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It needs to be forgotten for 2-4 years (although it certainly offers incredible pleasure even today) and will keep for two decades. Tasted twice."
Jeb Dunnuck,
Jeb Dunnuck
November 11, 2022
95 points
"This cuvée replaces the three historical red cuvées of the domaine (Classique, Auguste Favier and Charles Giraud). Quite introverted for now, seems to have everything required but needs time to knit together. Freshness, energy, fine and plentiful tannins with good acidity. While the alcohol is warming it is balanced. Could be very good in time, hard to judge now, but early signs are good and I’d like to see this again in bottle. From the galets roulés of lieu-dit Les Serres, fermented in concrete and then aged in concrete, old oak and amphora."
Matt Walls,
Decanter
September 2021
94 points
"Approachable out of the gate, with gorgeous red fruit, wild strawberry, licorice root, dusty earth and lavender flavors joined by floral highlights. Beautifully textured and silky on the palate, with mineral intensity building on the palate, imparting nice persistence and length. A polished yet honest, characteristic wine. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2032. 3,300 cases made, 1,007 cases imported."
Kristen Bieler,
Wine Spectator
94-95 points
"Tons of blackberry and forest-berry aromas, but also smoke and licorice pour from the glass of this powerful Chateauneuf, but the full supple tannins are already well integrated and this feels wonderfully velvety. A complex blend, based on grenache and cinsault, none of which was matured entirely in concrete. From biodynamically grown grapes."
James Suckling,
James Suckling
April 2022
93-95 points
"Isabel Ferrando informed me during my visit that she planned to eliminate the Reserve Auguste Favier and Collection Charles Giraud bottlings, folding those lots and the "tradition" Saint-Prefert Châteauneuf into a single, combined wine under the Famille Isabel Ferrando label. The resulting blend she showed as the 2020 Famille Isabel Ferrando Chateauneuf du Pape is a fine effort, with layers of cola-like spice and hints of garrigue layered against a lush backdrop of cherries and raspberries. Medium to full-bodied and almost creamy in texture, it finishes long, silky and mouthwatering."
Joe Czerwinski,
Wine Advocate
May 5, 2022
93 points
"Dark ruby colour, purple reflections, broader ochre lightening on the rim. Delicate herbal savouriness, ripe plum fruit, sour black cherries, candied orange zest; an attractive bouquet. Juicy and elegant with a fine fruit expression. Velvety, tannins that linger, delicate ripe figs. A complex yet accessible food wine, already good to drink."
Peter Moser,
Falstaff
April 2023

SKU/Code: 
DB7381-20
Product Line: 
National Portfolio
Wine
Red
Varietal: 
Grenache
Farming Type: 
Organic