Château de Ferrand 2024

Fine roasted notes, a hint of coconut over a mix of dark and red berries—blackberry, cherry, plum—herbs; round attack, incredibly crisp fruit, very fine-grained tannins, showing tension, balance, freshness and length, finishing on blood orange. A highly elegant Château de Ferrand that will deliver pleasure quickly. Built for mid-term ageing.

Vibrant colour to the rim, bright purple. Aromas of blackcurrants and strawberries, both dark fruit and lively red fruits. Quite high acidity puts the tangy fruit front and centre - it’s a little sharp at first and then changes to quite mineral and chalky. It has bite though and a lingering spiced liquorice, mint, aniseed and clove accent. Feels a little tense on the finish, just tightening up and constricting some of the enjoyment - more from oak I think which will settle. Well built though, this has fruit, acidity, sapped tannins and a long finish. A success in 2024. Certified organic.

75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Appealing fruit with firm but ripe tannins enrobed by the fruit. Fresh with a chalky texture. Saline note on the finish. A little austere but has a sense of place. (JL)

Fresh, crisp, red fruits surrounded by espresso and chocolate create a bright, medium-bodied, energetic wine with a lot of vibrancy, spearmint, and red pit fruits on the palate and in the finish. Fans of de Ferrand should note that 2024 is the first vintage to sport the estate’s new, updated label. Drink from 2027-2038. 90-92 pts

A nose of great precision, like the fine stroke of an ink drawing, with blackcurrant, blackcurrant leaf, and succulent lifted notes of pine forest, aromatic herbs, and flowers. The palate reveals red fruit, still a little reserved, delicately laced in silky tannins like a gauze veil. The whole is clean and compact. The oak still needs time to integrate, but the juicy finish suggests a beautiful harmony to come.