Domaine Saint Prefert
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.
Dom. Saint Prefert 'Clos Beatus Ille' 2018
$20.95 $27.73
The 2018 Côtes du Rhône Beatus Ille is made from 85% Grenache, with 15% Cinsault, and aged all in concrete. Not a deep, brooding
Domaine Saint Prefert 'Reserve Auguste Favier' 2017
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
Domaine Saint Prefert 'Reserve Auguste Favier' 2015
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
Dom. Saint Prefert 'Clos Beatus Ille' 2015
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
Saint Prefert 'Charles Giraud' Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2013
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
Domaine Saint Prefert 'Reserve Auguste Favier' 2013
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
Domaine Saint Prefert Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012
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
Saint Prefert Chateauneuf du Pape Clairette Blanc 2012 1.5L
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
Saint Prefert Chateauneuf du Pape Clairette Blanc 2012 1.5L
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
Domaine Saint Prefert 'Reserve' Charles Giraud 2011
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
Domaine Saint Prefert Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2011
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
Domaine Saint Prefert 'Reserve Auguste Favier' 2011
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.
Saint Prefert 'Charles Giraud' Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010
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
Saint Prefert 'Auguste Favier' Chat-du-Pape Reserve 2010
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
Saint Prefert 'Auguste Favier' Chat-du-Pape Reserve 2010 1.5L
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
Domaine Saint Prefert Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010
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
Domaine St Prefert 'Charles Giraud' Grenache 2009
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
Domaine St Prefert Reserve Auguste Favier 2009
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
Domaine Saint Prefert Chateauneuf du Pape 2008
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
Domaine Saint Prefert Reserve Favier 2008
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
Domaine Saint Prefert Chateauneuf du Pape 2007
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
Dom St Prefert Charles Giraud Chateauneuf du Pape 2007
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
Domaine Saint Prefert Reserve Favier 2007
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,
Domaine Saint Prefert Chateauneuf du Pape 2006
Wine Spectator 94 "Sleek and pure, with superb concentration to the fig, currant paste and mocha notes, all balanced by black licorice and mineral notes that
Domaine Saint Prefert Chateauneuf du Pape 2005
Wine Spectator 95 Robert Parker 92-94 "Dense purple-colored, the grapy, young and unevolved but promising 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Auguste Favier has a stunning nose of