France

Château de Ferrand

Chateau de Ferrand Grand Cru Classe Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Bordeaux

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 de Ferrand races out with notes of raspberry coulis and juicy plums giving way to hints of dried roses, black pepper, and bay leaf with a waft of tilled soil. The medium-bodied palate is lively with good density, framed by lightly chewy tannins and finishing with a peppery lift. The blend is 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

One of the St Emilion classifieds that is always worth checking in with, benefitting from increasingly impressive winemaking and consistency. Delivers the spiced intensity of the fruits of the vintage combined with floral aromatics, pumice stone, bitter chocolate, mint leaf and slate. Axel Marchal consultant.

Inside Bordeaux

Grippy tannic frame from the start, this is pared back, confident, careful progression through the palate, limestone austerity a touch of lemongrass and fragrant tomato leaf alongside the vivid red and black cherry fruits, slim and savoury but with finesse.  The Bich family continues to impress here. First certified organic vintage.

Concentrated damson colour, perfumed floral aromatics, brushed velvet tannins, hit of baked cherry, peach pit and bitter chocolate gives a lovely tension and lift alongside the intense ripe fruit flavours. Tannins are elongated, with grip, and this has plenty of personality and balance, takes the imprint of the vintage but gives it a limestone twist, and will age extremely well. Family Bich. Axel Marchal consultant since 2019, 32.1ha, 32% new oak, plus 4% terracotta amphora. Around 80% of 1st wine. 3.65ph. 2022 marks the second year of Château de Ferrand’s organic conversion, and is the earliest-ripening vintage in the estate’s history, with harvest stretching from September 5 to October 5. Gonzague de Lambert director.

Clear spices and cloves in bottle as during En Primeur - expect a pretty concentrated delivery on the opening notes. It's good quality, well balanced and structured, with pomegrante, red cherry, smoked earth and mandarin peel. Axel Marchal consultant here, with owners Philippe and Pauline Bich-Chandon-Moët. Harvest stretched from late September through to October 19.

The 2020 de Ferrand is a blend of 74% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it gives up expressive scents of stewed black cherries, baked plums, and star anise with suggestions of tilled soil and unsmoked cigars. The full-bodied palate delivers bright, refreshing fruit with a lively line and soft, well-managed tannins, finishing earthy.

Located in the commune of Saint-Hippolyte, Ferrand is an estate that has seen plenty of recent investment and is making increasingly impressive wines. This has poise and focus, managing to be both mouth-watering and creamy in texture. Fruits here are dominant red and summery - raspberry, loganberry, pinpoints of redcurrant, with white truffle and fennel alongside. Second vintage with Axel Marchal as consultant. 47hl/h yield.

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Château de Ferrand
Vintages	2023
Country	France, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Bottle	75 cl

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