Ferraton Père et Fils - Crozes-Hermitage Calendes 2016

Ferraton is owned by Michel Chapoutier, but he wanted to keep an independent team at the helm, led by Damien Brisset. The old facilities in Tain have been renovated and modernized, and a new, very welcoming reception and dining area has just opened along the Rhône—everything is in place for this venture to take off. The lineup showcases expertise in Rhône Valley wines, with—as is the case at Chapoutier—a plot-by-plot approach that expands the number of cuvées each year. Today, the estate remains a benchmark more for its reds than for its whites. The 2017 reds are well-crafted, striking a balance between freshness and depth.

Renovated “from floor to ceiling”: the expression is perfectly apt for introducing the rebirth of Ferraton and its new winery, located at the historic address of the wine merchant—acquired by Maison M. Chapoutier in 2004—on a small street in the center of Tain-l’Hermitage. In Hermitage, the estate owns vineyards in the lower part of Les Dionnières, just below Les Murets. Some of the old vines are set aside for the Les Dionnières cuvée, while the rest go into the Les Miaux cuvée, blended with grapes from Le Méal. The estate owns two plots on Le Méal, whose grapes are also either vinified separately or blended. As for white Hermitage, the focus shifts eastward toward Les Beaumes, with whites made from Marsanne and Roussanne—often planted in dense clusters—that go into the “Le Reverdy” cuvée. Always harvested at full ripeness, the Syrah grapes are destemmed and aged in barrels and demi-muids: Les Dionnières with 20% new oak, and 40% for Le Méal. Aging lasts 16 to 18 months. The style of the wines—full-bodied and expressive—has so far favored the reds.