This cuvée replaces the three historical red cuvées of the domaine (Classique, Auguste Favier and Charles Giraud). Quite introverted for now, seems to have everything required but needs time to knit together. Freshness, energy, fine and plentiful tannins with good acidity. While the alcohol is warming it is balanced. Could be very good in time, hard to judge now, but early signs are good and I'd like to see this again in bottle. From the galets roulés of lieu-dit Les Serres, fermented in concrete and then aged in concrete, old oak and amphora. (MW)

Tons of blackberry and forest-berry aromas, but also smoke and licorice pour from the glass of this powerful Chateauneuf, but the full supple tannins are already well integrated and this feels wonderfully velvety. A complex blend, based on grenache and cinsault, none of which was matured entirely in concrete. From biodynamically grown grapes.

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. There is some restructuring going on at this estate, as Isabel Ferrando plans to unify it and her Isabel Ferrando label under the Famille Isabel Ferrando umbrella. In addition, Ferrando informed me 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. The resulting red range would then include this "new" Cha?teauneuf du Pape, plus the Colombis and F601 bottlings. Almost everything she has done so far in her management of this domaine has turned to gold, so consumers should all look forward to the new lineup. (JC)