98 point

Now the flagship of this estate, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is 75% Grenache and the rest Cinsault, Mourvedre, and a little Syrah. Sporting a deep ruby/purple hue, it offers a beautiful array of black raspberry and darker cherry fruit as well as lots of graphite, chalky minerality, Provençal garrigue, and spice. Beautiful on the palate as well, this medium to full-bodied effort has a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, rock-solid underlying structure and concentration, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It needs to be forgotten for 2-4 years (although it certainly offers incredible pleasure even today) and will keep for two decades. Tasted twice.

97 point

Even within the context of the excellent 2020 vintage in Chateauneuf this is a really stunning wine. Incredible concentration of spiced plum cake with stacks of candied citrus and dried herb aromas. Giant tannin structure but this is so plush and refined, it sweeps you off your feet and carries you in its arms through the super-long finish. Drink or hold.

2020 marks the debut of Familie Isabel Ferrando, which is a blend of all the estates terroirs. 2019 was the final vintage of the single vineyards. The new wine is deep, ruby in color. From there you find a spicy nose with notes cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg along with all the scents of dark red fruits. On the palate, the wine is ripe, dark and plummy. You find licorice, ripe, dark fruits, chalky tannins and an opulent, rich character on the palate. One of the deepest wines of the vintage, there is a a beautiful sense of purity, symmetry, length and a touch more of all that spice in the finish. This is so easy to drink now, but you will have a much better experience if you let it age for a few years.

93/95

Isabel Ferrando informed me during my visit that she planned to eliminate the Reserve Auguste Favier and Collection Charles Giraud bottlings, folding those lots and the "tradition" Saint-Prefert Châteauneuf into a single, combined wine under the Famille Isabel Ferrando label. The resulting blend she showed as the 2020 Famille Isabel Ferrando Chateauneuf du Pape is a fine effort, with layers of cola-like spice and hints of garrigue layered against a lush backdrop of cherries and raspberries. Medium to full-bodied and almost creamy in texture, it finishes long, silky and mouthwatering. 2023 - 2033

94 point

Approachable out of the gate, with gorgeous red fruit, wild strawberry, licorice root, dusty earth and lavender flavors joined by floral highlights. Beautifully textured and silky on the palate, with mineral intensity building on the palate, imparting nice persistence and length. A polished yet honest, characteristic wine. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre.