Isabel Ferrando's reputation for outstanding wines has grown every vintage since her first release in 2003. She purchased Domaine Saint-Préfert from the Serre family, who was one of the first to estate-bottle in the appellation in the 1930's; at that point, the domaine was 13.2 hectares, all in the Les Serres lieux-dit, south of the village of Châteauneuf. In 2004, she purchased more land and started making the 100% Grenache cuvée Colombis, primarily from the lieux-dit of Colombis, with sandy soil; she bottles this wine as Domaine Isabel Ferrando. Ferrando has always farmed organically. She has very old vines in her holdings: the Grenache vines average more than 70 years old, and she still has some of the original Mourvèdre that was planted in the 1920's. Throughout each parcel, all thirteen varieties are co-planted, something that Henri Bonneau told her is, "the beginning of the complexity [of her wines.]" There is not a secret formula here to making great wines. Ferrando has a young team and she is open to new ideas; she relies on tradition without being trapped by it. Starting in the 2009 vintage, Isabel started working with whole-cluster fermentations (without added yeasts,) finding that it increased freshness in the wines and lowered alcohol, giving the wines vibrance. Aging happens in a mix of concrete and 600L used barrels for up to 18 months.
55aFrance » Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Wine Spectator 96 "This red puts on a gorgeous display of racy cassis, cherry puree and raspberry coulis flavors laced with garrigue and singed sandalwood accents,
55aFrance » Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Jeb Dunnuck 93 "The 2018 Châteauneuf du Pape reveals a ruby/purple hue and is slightly opaque. Based on 85% Grenache and 5% each of Syrah, Mourvèdre,
James Suckling 92 "A very fresh array of red berries and ripe cherries with a wealth of succulent and supple fruit that delivers a sweetly spicy
Jen Dunnuck 95-97 “The 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve Auguste Favier offers more kirsch and blackberry fruits as well as ample charcoal, earth, licorice, and spice nuances. It's
Wine Spectator 97 (#44 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2017) "Vibrant and captivating, with exuberant fruitcake, cinnamon and black tea aromas leading the way for a
The 2015 Clos Beatus Ille Cotes du Rhone is 85% Grenache and 15% Cinsault fermented and aged entirely in concrete. "Medium to full with layers
Wine Spectator 96 "Shows impressive depth and range for the vintage, with layer upon layer of steeped fig, crushed plum and warm raspberry preserve flavors forming
Wine Advocate 92 "Checking in as a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and a splash of Mourvèdre, the 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Reserve
Wine Advocate 91 "There are two Châteauneufs made in 2012, the classique and the Auguste Favier, with no Collection Charles Giraud. The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape
Wine Advocate 96 "Even better, and one of the top whites coming out of the Rhone valley, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Clairettes is an
Wine Spectator 95 "A range of dried mango, papaya and quince flavors are melded together, backed by additional notes of peach and persimmon. The long finish
Wine Spectator 94 "Features a dark, warm ganache spine that holds the cherry compote, plum sauce and steeped currant fruit together. Smoldering charcoal and tobacco notes
Stephen Tanzer 90 "Deep ruby. Vibrant, high-pitched aromas of candied red fruits and lavender, with Asian spice and herb topnotes. Juicy and precise, offering gently sweet
Wine Advocate 93 "The 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Auguste Favier (85% Grenache and 15% Cinsault) is deeper and richer on the palate than I remember.
Robert Parker 98-100 "Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "The celestial 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud could come very close to equaling the genius
Wine Spectator 97 "Ripe, pure and racy, with mouthwatering anise, steeped plum and hoisin sauce notes allied to a terrific graphite spine that carries the very
Wine Spectator 97 WS TOP 100 2012 Rank 12 "Ripe, pure and racy, with mouthwatering anise, steeped plum and hoisin sauce notes allied to a terrific graphite
Robert Parker 90-92 "The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Classique is 85% Grenache and the rest Cinsault and Mourvedre. Eighty percent is aged in tank and the
Wine Spectator 96 "This gushes forth, with loads of plum, blackberry and cassis that saturate the palate, while apple wood, tobacco and perfumy incense keep everything
Wine Spectator 94 "Very rich and caressing, with lovely plum sauce, melted licorice and cassis aromas and flavors all woven together and backed by ample but
Robert Parker 88-90 "No Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud was made in 2008 because of the challenges of the vintage, but a fine 2008 Chateauneuf
Robert Parker 90-92 "The 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Auguste Favier is composed of 85% Grenache and 15% Cinsault. Among the deepest, richest, and fullest of
Robert Parker 90-92 "The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of 80% Grenache and the rest equal parts Mourvedre, Syrah, and Cinsault. Half of it
Robert Parker 100 "Absolutely prodigious, and, like the other two 2007s, superior to what I predicted last year, is the utterly perfect 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape
Wine Spectator 95 "Jam-packed with flattering, hedonistic layers of crushed plum, warm fig and macerated blackberry and boysenberry fruit, all inflected with notes of pepper, tobacco,