2023 Château de Ferrand

The 2023 Château de Ferrand has a succinct bouquet, understated at first pour, but it opens nicely in the glass with wild strawberry, raspberry and light floral scents. A subtle estuarine element lurks underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy red fruit and fine grip, granular in texture with a twist of sour cherry on the finish that just needs a little more persistence. I feel this should gain a bit more corpulence during its barrel-aging.

- Neal Martin (04/2024)

Attractive depth of fruit with blackberry and black olive, as well as crushed stone. Full-bodied with chewy and polished tannins that are velvety but muscular. 3.52 pH gives it verve. Saltiness comes from the cabernet franc planted on limestone soils. 65% merlot and 35% cabernet franc. (04/2024)

The 2023 Château De Ferrand checks in as 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, resting in 35% new French oak. Deep purple-hued, it offers an impressive nose of ripe black and blue fruits interwoven with subtle notes of iron, tobacco, tapenade, and spicy wood, with just a kiss of background floral and violet nuances. Beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, and concentrated, yet still elegant and balanced, with notable tannic grip, it's going to benefit from just a few years of bottle age. It's another outstanding 2023 in the making. (05/2024)

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. (05/2024)