Domaine de Ferrand Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012
-
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape is jaw-dropping good! Made from 92% Grenache and the rest a mix of permitted varieties, aged all in concrete tank, it boasts fabulous notes of truffles, damp earth, wild herbs and both kirsch and darker berry fruit. Full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and even voluptuous, it covers the mouth with fruit, has sweet tannin and a hard-to-resist personality. Drink this beauty over the coming decade or longer.
Other Vintages
2020-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck - Vinous
-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck - Vinous
-
Robert
Parker
-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck
-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
The Cotes du Rhone vines were planted between 1933 and 1946, and consist of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. It is, again as Mr. Parker states "a beautiful example of how much flavor, character, and complexity can be packed into a Cotes du Rhone".
The Chateauneuf du Pape is 90% Grenache, the vines ranging in age from 60 to 100 years of age, and the balance the other twelve Chateauneuf varietals. From these he obtains superb natural ripeness, usually in excess of 14%. The vinification is traditional and the aging is for the most part in large oak foudre, but also a portion in barrique, however no new oak.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.