Saint Prefert, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2019

"Proprietress Isabel Ferrando has taken her Saint Prefert estate to France’s highest level, and she’s unquestionably making some of the most profound wines on earth today, including both reds and whites. The Reserve Auguste Favier comes from 60- to 100-year-old vines and is based largely on Grenache with around 15% Cinsault, aged all in older barrels. This cuvée always shows a seamless, elegant profile. Lastly, and what I would consider her top wine, the Collection Charles Giraud is always a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre, with the Grenache aged in tank and the Mourvèdre in demi-muids. I’ve also included her Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis cuvée here, which is released under the Isabel Ferrando label. It’s 100% Grenache from the sandy soils of the Colombis lieu-dit located on the western edge of the appellation. As I’ve written in the past, readers looking for the essence of Grenache shouldn’t miss this beauty. While the style changed slightly in 2009, when she started including more stems and harvesting earlier, these latest releases show sensational depth of fruit and texture, and are almost overflowing with Provençal charm. Today, she is assisted by consultant Baptiste Olivier, who’s increasingly working with the top estates in the region. Madame Ferrando is at the top of her game."
— Jeb Dunnuck

Isabel Ferrando makes some of the most exciting wines to have ever come out of the Rhone Valley. The elegance and velvety texture make Saint Prefert easy to appreciate in its youth, with rich, generous, red fruit, fabulous freshness, and beautifully integrated tannins. The finesse and intensity apparent in each Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a gift for wine lovers and hedonists alike. The yields from 2019 were significantly lower than previous vintages - making allocations for these great wines ever more difficult to aquire.