2018 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge Famille Isabel Ferrando (St. Prefert)

Full black-fruit aromas and intense licorice character, together with the full body and plenty of powdery tannins make a bold statement. Everything fits together very neatly on the front and mid-palate, but the finish doesn’t have quite the excitement you were led to expect. Still, this is a delicious wine with many years of life ahead of it. A blend of 60% grenache and 40% mourvedre. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Moving to the 2018s, all of which were tasted from bottle, the 2018 Châteauneuf du Pape reveals a ruby/purple hue and is slightly opaque. Based on 85% Grenache and 5% each of Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, it offers a gorgeous perfume of black raspberries, herbes de Provence, ground pepper, candied orange, and a touch of spiced meat. Pure class on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness and ultra-fine tannins, it has terrific balance, a layered, elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. This is one thrilling base cuvee to enjoy over the coming decade or more.

The 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape is only about 75% Grenache, as that variety suffered more from mildew than the others. Raspberries and chocolate appear on the nose of this medium to full-bodied wine, whose tannins are impeccably ripe and silky, finishing clean and precise. It should drink well on release and for the next 7-8 years.

With a strong floral, herb, licorice and spice note that accompanies all the sweet cherries and black raspberries, the wine gets off to a good start. On the palate, the wine is fresh, juicy, fruity, soft and refined, with a spicy, herbal end note on top of the kirsch in the finish. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/2020/10/2018-chateauneuf-du-pape-report-with-tasting-notes-harvest-info/?fbclid=IwAR3NjDhWE_jIJkpzvnXni6gCAOTtWz5N9vqjOLXPzs3Tpi8-XMxXvgFEbkw

Balanceret, lækker, blød og lækker, saftig, ganske åben og drikkelig. Årgangen er håndteret meget elegant her, masser af sødmefuld frugt i en smukt tilbageholdt, ubesværet stil.