Château Ferrière 2021

Floral nose, red-fruited, playful; delicate on the palate too, slender, lively, extraordinarily fresh, with a dancing lightness all the way to the saline finish.

Dark blackcurrant, plum and soft perfumed aspects on the nose. So juicy on the palate, really high acidity but it’s sweet and gently high-toned. The acidity is giving some sharpness to the fruit at this point, but there is enough concentration and density to balance it while still delivering structure and overall freshness, alongside nuances of dark chocolate, perfume and liquorice. Usually Ferrière has 25% Merlot, this year just 13%, so the 81% Cabernet Sauvignon is doing most of the talking, giving a lifted menthol feel, firm tannins and an effortlessly long finish. This has energy and verve, it’s fruit-forward and upfront. I love the signature here. 1% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. 62% grand vin; in 2020 it was 68%. 12.5% press wine. 18 months’ ageing, 40% new oak, 40% one year and 20% in amphora. A yield of 26 hL/ha, better than 2020’s 20 hL/ha.

This is very classy and refined, with hints of sandalwood, blackcurrant, and mineral aromas and flavors. Medium body. Crunchy and delicious. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Delicious now but better in a year or two.

The 2021 Ferrière, aged 20% in amphorae, has a lovely bouquet with black plum, cedar, iris flower and touches of sea spray—well-defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with powdery tannins on the entry, mainly black fruit-laced with blueberry and seaweed notes toward the finish. Quite well-structured with that Pauillac-like allure, this could use four or five years in bottle.

Dark ruby garnet colour with purple reflections, delicate ochre rim. Subtle notes of nougat, orange zest, light ethereal nuances, ripe plum in the background. Medium complexity, somewhat loosely knit, subtle sweetness, a hint of milk chocolate on the finish, somewhat oxidative aftertaste, an unusual style. Presented much better en primeur, the future remains to be seen.

81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 26 hl/ha, 13% vol. Playful bouquet, ripe blackcurrant, fresh Tasmanian mountain black pepper, violet perfume and Alpine blueberry jelly. On the complex, pure palate, silky texture, energetic drive, nervy tension, a tightly knit tannin framework and an ascetic body. In the concentrated finish, blueberry contours, graphite and finely grained astringency, potential rating. 2028

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (Organic, 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc) Fresh, elegant, powerful, delicately fruity bouquet, wild strawberries, blackcurrants, cherries, slate, smoke, red licorice, subtle roasted notes. Dense, elegant, airy palate with fine, sweet fruit, a dense, elegant structure, plenty of fine tannins, varied, fresh aromatics, long, delicate finish.

(Organic, 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc) Fresh, elegant, powerful, finely fruity bouquet: wild strawberries, blackcurrants, cherries, slate, smoke, red licorice, delicate roasted notes. Dense, elegant, airy palate with fine, sweet fruit, a dense, elegant structure, plenty of fine tannins, varied, fresh aromatics, long, delicate finish. 18/20 2028 - 2055

This starts out well, with clear fruit expression and plenty of character. There’s a sense of hidden power as the tannins build, but with the extra concentration comes a clear austerity, and it will benefit from softening and broadening with ageing. 13% press wine. On Ferriere, harvest from September 16 to October 4. Historically low yields after frost and poor fruit set.

Let us once again salute the elegance and balance of this highly digestible 2021, perfectly on point. The wine vibrates with delicious fruit and a beautiful harmony. It is already irresistible. Yet again, a great deal.

A deep, dark bouquet of black fruits with notes of black licorice. Smooth and caressing on the attack, with spicy energy at mid-palate that extends the finish.

Ferrière 2021 presents itself in a relevant, authentic way. I find it focused on freshness. The 81% Cabernet Sauvignon clearly has something to do with that. The fresh, fruity elements carry nicely on the palate. The wine is slightly creamy with well-integrated tannins that tighten a little on the finish, yet provide reliable support. A sapid, gourmand Ferrière that, once fully open, will delight many palates!

Dark, deep purple color. Intense nose with ripe, fresh fruit. Precise on the attack, very flavorful mid-palate, very pleasant as well, well-structured; the wine develops with savory complexity, leading to a long, persistent finish with nicely coated tannic relief. Plenty of flavor. Blend: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol: 13.1% – Yield: 26 hl/ha, limited by coulure.

With flowers and raspberries on the nose, the wine is medium-bodied, crisp, soft, and fresh with a spicy, bright red currant and cranberry mid-palate and a crisp finish. The wine blends 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. 13.1% ABV. Drink from 2023-3035. 89-91

This has ripe nutmeg and black-currant freshness. Concentrated from old vines with great acidity, the wine gives intense fruits and freshness at the end. Drink from 2028. Organic and biodynamic.

Offering up notes of cherries, dark berries, charcoal and petroleum jelly, the 2021 Ferrière is medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with an impressively round, generous profile for the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon represents an unusually high proportion (81%) of the blend.