Isabel Ferrand is headed for the top, of that there can be little doubt. To say she is chasing a certain producer’s crown would be an understatement! Together with her husband she purchased this moribund estate in 2003 and since then has employed the help of Chateauneuf’s resident oenologist Philippe Cambie. To the further astonishment of the village, Isabelle has managed to purchase a few extra hectares of prime vineyards too! The production at present is small, a mere 22’000 bottles, but as her new purchases come on-stream expect this figure to rise. The main focus of her vineyards is to the south-east of the village in the Quartier de Serres. Here, the soil is galets roules (red pebbles).
Per case ex VAT
Southern Rhone
2005 Chateauneuf-du-Pape 'Charles Giraud' 60% Grenache and 40% old vine Mourvedre. 100% de-stemmed.
It has a saturated ruby/purple color and a beautiful nose of blueberries, blackberries, licorice, creosote, and some smoked herbs and seaweed. It is full-bodied, dense, chewy, with good acidity, high tannin, and fabulous fruit richness. This will require patience, probably about 2-3 years of bottle age, and then can be drunk for the next 15 or more years. (RP)
