SOLD OUT! The 2016 Ferraton Cotes du Rhone Samorens Rouge is the best Cotes du Rhone value on the planet.
Jeb Dunnuck had this to say recently: “The team at Ferraton continues to ratchet up the quality of their Southern Rhônes and these latest releases are all outstanding wines.” He’s certainly right about this Grenache and Syrah blend.
2016 Ferraton Cotes du Rhone Rouge “Samorens”
92 points Jeb Dunnuck
SOLD OUT
In case you hadn’t heard the 2016 vintage in the Southern Rhone is incredible. Jeb Dunnuck referred to the vintage as “heavenly,” and he went on to say it was “truly” an extraordinary vintage.” After tasting this wine, I have to agree wholeheartedly. Since joining forces with the Chapoutier family and converting all of their vineyards to biodynamic/organic farming in the late 1990’s, Ferraton’s wines are better than ever.
Their 2016 Cotes du Rhone Rouge is a blend of 50/50 Grenache and Syrah. “The 2016 Côtes du Rhône Samorens is a 50/50 split of Grenache and Syrah that’s completely unoaked and brought up all in concrete. Rounded, sexy and even voluptuous, with terrific purity in its black raspberry, violet and incense aromatics, this medium to full-bodied beauty has no hard edges, silky tannin and a great finish,” says Mr. Dunnuck. And he and I tend to agree, especially when it comes to Rhones.
It’s hard to put into words what an incredible value this is. I typically encounter one-dimensional, fruit-bombs in this price range, but the Ferraton Cotes du Rhone is so much more than that. Jeb’s tasting notes are completely consistent with mine. There’s wonderfully ripe fruit, but there’s quite a bit of “complex stuff” going on here. There’s certainly a floral element to the wine, no doubt due to the higher proportion of Syrah, but there’s also a complex spice/herb thing going on. And the texture is insanely fine for a wine in this price range — in some ways, it drinks like a fuller-bodied, darker fruited Pinot Noir.
So there you go. I know you’re all thirsting for a great value red for January, and I’ve found it. And don’t fret about buying a case — you can drink this one now happily, but it will easily last 3-5 years. I don’t think it’s going to get much better, but it’s not going to fade either.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville