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Around this time last year, I reviewed Ferraton Père & Fils La Matinière Crozes-Hermitage and Samorëns Côtes-du-Rhône Red 2015 vintages.  Photo credit: Ferraton.fr Ferraton Père & Fils is a producer and négociant of wine throughout the Rhône Valley. Twenty percent of Ferraton production is estate wines with grapes sourced from the domaine’s 37 acres in the Northern Rhône’s Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and St. Joseph appellations. The rest is sourced from sustainably farmed fruit in both Northern and Southern Rhône appellations all of which are biodynamic and certified organic.  To learn more about this producer and the Rhône Valley, please click ‘Ferraton Père & Fils’ or Rhône Valley on the menu at right. The 2017 vintages of Ferraton Père & Fils La Matinière Crozes-Hermitage and Samorëns Côtes-du-Rhône Red are quite pleasing to the palate and light enough to be enjoyed with a variety of cuisine.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss La Matinière Crozes-Hermitage 2017 is 100% Syrah. Crozes-Hermitage is the largest appellation in the Northern Rhône and is known for its exceptional Syrahs. The climate here is moderate-continental and a bit cooler than the Southern Rhône but still it is far enough south to produce earlier ripening grapes. The grapes for the La Matinière are sourced and blended from a mix of estate and neighboring vineyards in the Mercurol and Beaumont-Monteux districts of central and southern Crozes-Hermitage. Glacial alluvial deposits with rounded pebbles, stones and gravel soils along with potassium residue can be found here, which contribute to fleshier, rounder wines. This wine is partly matured in oak barrels for 12 months before bottling.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This wine begins with lovely floral aromas mixed with strawberry, cherry and baking spice. The palate offers an array of red fruit such as raspberry, pomegranate and sour cherry. It has a nice balance to it that finishes with hints of pepper, cherry and vanilla. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $26 Samorëns Côtes-du-Rhône Red 2017 is a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. Grapes are sourced from vineyards situated on the left bank of the Southern Rhône with flatter terrain that consists of stony soil including limestone, clay and sand. The climate is Mediterranean with mild winters and warm, dry summers.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This terroir-driven wine bursts open with aromas of berries, floral and spice. The palate offers juicy red fruit with flavors of blackberry, dark raspberry, anise and spice with a tart plum skin finish. It is the perfect combination of fruit and savory.
Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $16 With the holidays fast approaching, you won’t go wrong with adding these wines to your shopping list and dinner table. Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] Today is the summer solstice. It is the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. It is also the shortest night!  In celebration of the summer solstice and the promise of many warm days ahead, I opened a bottle of rosé.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss In the past, I reviewed the 2016 and 2017 vintages of this Ferraton Père & Fils rosé. So, I knew that I was in for a treat. And, I was not disappointed. The Côtes-du-Rhône vineyards, located in Southern France, extend from Vienne to Avignon and include 171 vineyards. The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate conducive to grape growing that also reflects in the characteristics of the wine. The grapes for this particular wine were grown on the right bank of the Rhône in limestone, sand, pebbles and clay soil.  Ferraton Père & Fils is a producer and négociant of wine throughout the Rhone Valley. To learn more about this producer, please click ‘Ferraton Père & Fils’ on the menu at right. Ferraton Père & Fils Samorëns Rosé 2018 is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Cinsault. The color is bright salmon bordering on coral. Lovely aromas of strawberry, peach and a trace of minerality segue onto the palate with white floral notes, cherry, berries and a hint of red ruby grapefruit and citrus zest on the finish This is a lively, dry rosé that exhibits fresh acidity and roundness. Drink as an aperitif or serve with seafood, salads, grilled vegetables and light pasta. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $14  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Enjoy “the longest day” and have a great weekend!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] As it got closer to game time on Super Bowl Sunday, the streets emptied and the traffic was just about non-existent. The bars were packed with sports fans and Super Bowl parties were underway in many homes. Friends engaged in good-natured banter as to who had the largest flat screen TV to watch the game on while others boasted they had the best “game day” food to serve.  For many years my youngest son and I had a Super Bowl tradition. If I didn’t feel like cooking, we would order a huge feast from our favorite Chinese restaurant and watch the game together. After he went off to college, I started watching the game with friends. But I must admit that I really miss my son on Super Bowl Sunday! Since my son couldn’t join me again this year I decided to invite the “Northern Rhône” to participate in the Super Bowl festivities, via a bottle of wine. (I know, this is a long and crazy segue to review a bottle of wine.) The Rhône Valley is a grape-growing region located in Southern France.  The Northern Rhône has seven major appellations consisting mostly of steep hillsides and stone filled soils including limestone, minerals, clay and gravel.  The climate in the Northern Rhône is moderate continental and is influenced by the cold north mistral wind, with the winters tending to be tough and the summer months warm. The more concentrated and better quality wines come from the steep hillsides that have greater exposure to sunlight. The signature grape in the Northern Rhône is Syrah and it is the only red grape permitted here. Viognier, Marsanne and Roussane make up the white varieties. Syrah grapes are small with thick darkly colored skins and tend to produce wines of deep color that are concentrated and rich.  Saint-Joseph appellation is located on the right bank of the Rhône and produces some of the best quality red wines from the steeply terraced vineyards here. The appellation is approximately 2,400 acres with a diverse range of soils, heights and sun exposures. Ferraton Père & Fils is a producer and négociant of wine throughout the Rhone Valley. Twenty percent of Ferraton production is estate wines with grapes coming from the domaine’s 37 acres in the Northern Rhône’s Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and St. Joseph appellations. The rest is sourced from sustainably farmed fruit in both Northern and Southern Rhône appellations all of which are biodynamic and certified organic.  Ferraton Père & Fils Saint-Joseph La Source 2015 is bottled under their négociant line (Red Label) called “Tradition”, which refers to the traditional method in the Rhone of blending from various vineyards. The wine is 100% Syrah of which a portion was partly aged in oak barrels for about 12 months. The color is deep ruby with heady aromas of red and dark berries, cherry, spice and violet. Every sip is pleasing to the palate, offering black raspberries, blackberry, dark plum, licorice, sweet spice and vanilla. The finish is loaded with pepper, minerality and hints of chocolate. It is full-bodied with soft tannins and a richness that just “wows”! Serve with roasted or grilled meats, all types of cheese, fish or meat stews. This is a lot of wine at a modest price! And, I expect it to get even better over time. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $32  For more information about Ferraton Père & Fils, please click on the menu at right. The Super Bowl was a disappointment this year and held no excitement or nail- biting moments. However, my glass of wine more than compensated for the outcome of the game.  Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] Winter is just around the corner and we’ve already had a taste of snow, about eight inches worth! During this unexpected snowfall, I took inventory of the many samples that I’ve received of late and decided this would be a great time to open a few bottles from the Rhône Valley.  The Rhône Valley is a grape-growing region located in Southern France.  The Northern Rhône has seven major appellations consisting mostly of steep hillsides and stone filled soils including limestone, minerals, clay and gravel. The climate is continental and is influenced by the mistral wind with the winters tending to be tough and the summer months warm. The signature grape is Syrah and it is the only red grape permitted here. Viognier, Marsanne and Roussane make up the white varieties. The Southern Rhône produces about 95% of all wine in the Rhône Valley. It has six major appellations that are situated on flatter terrain consisting of stony soil including limestone, clay and sand. The climate is Mediterranean with mild winters and warm, dry summers. Thirteen grape varieties are allowed, both red and white with Grenache as the signature grape here.  More than two-thirds of Rhône Valley wines are bottled as Côtes-du-Rhône, with the appellation covering Northern and Southern Rhône. So, with these tidbits of information in mind, let’s talk about Ferraton Père & Fils. If you’ve been following my stories, you probably recognize this name. I’ve written about their wines on several occasions and at the risk of repeating myself, here is a condensed version of a previous story. Ferraton Père & Fils estate is located in Tain l’Hermitage and was founded in 1946 by Jean Orëns Ferraton. His son Michel, inheriting the same passion as his father, introduced the first Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph wines to the world. Michel Chapoutier, a highly regarded winemaker and close friend of the Ferratons’ introduced organic viticulture to the vineyards in 1998 and he eventually formed a partnership with the Ferratons. By 2000, all of the vineyards were converted to biodynamic farming and are now certified organic. Twenty percent of Ferraton production is estate wines with grapes coming from the domaine’s 37 acres in the Northern Rhône’s Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and St. Joseph appellations. The rest is sourced from sustainably farmed fruit in both Northern and Southern Rhône appellations. What began in 1946 as a .3-hectare estate (some of these vines still produce fruit), Ferraton now has an annual production of about 350,000 bottles. Today, oenologist Damien Brisset heads Ferraton and is supported by a young, dynamic team with an average age in the mid-thirties. Côtes-du-Rhône Samorëns Blanc 2017 is a blend of 60% White Grenache and 40% Clairette. The color is lemon with aromas of blossom, pear, melon and citrus. The palate offers honeysuckle, pear, lemon, apple and hints of fennel. This is a refreshing wine with great balance and crispness. Drink as an aperitif or with light cuisine such as seafood, cheese and salads. Alcohol: 14% SRP: $16  Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu 2017 Plan de Dieu means “God’s Plan” in French and is a Côtes-du-Rhône village that has had its AOC status for red wines since 2005. Vineyards here date back to at least 1362. This wine is a beautiful blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. Lush aromas of black fruit, raspberry, cherry and spice segue onto the palate and become more defined. Blackberry, dark plum, black currant, pepper, vanilla and hints of savory linger on a long finish. Ripe tannins and a silky mouth-feel complete this expressive wine. Pair with grilled meats, game, dense fish and stews. Alcohol: 14% SRP: $18  I have always enjoyed the wines from Ferraton Père & Fils. The price to value ratio is impressive and these are great wines to have on hand for the holidays.
Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] Spring is being quite obstinate in making an appearance. And, I am getting quite tired of the chilly temperatures and forecasts of impending snow showers. I’m ready to trade in my winter coat and gloves for a sundress and sandals! So, to liven things up a bit, I brought a bit of spring indoors and to my dining table. I opened a bottle of Rosé that I had just received from the Côtes-du-Rhône and served it with delicious smoked salmon pasta. The wine was Ferraton Père & Fils Samorëns Rosé 2017. I tasted and reviewed the 2016 vintage last year and I was not disappointed with the 2017 vintage!  The Côtes-du-Rhône vineyards, located in Southern France, extend from Vienne to Avignon and include 171 vineyards. The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate conducive to grape growing that also reflects in the characteristics of the wine. The grapes for this particular wine were grown on the right bank of the Rhône in limestone, sand, pebbles and clay soil.  Ferraton Père & Fils estate is located in Tain l’Hermitage and was founded in 1946 by Jean Orëns Ferraton. His son Michel, inheriting the same passion as his father, introduced the first Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph wines to the world. Michel Chapoutier, a highly regarded winemaker and close friend of the Ferratons’ introduced organic viticulture to the vineyards in 1998 and he eventually formed a partnership with the Ferratons. By 2000, all of the vineyards were converted to biodynamic farming and are now certified organic. What began in 1946 as a .3 hectare estate (some of these vines still produce fruit), Ferraton now has an annual production of about 350,000 bottles. Today, Ferraton is headed by oenologist Damien Brisset, who is supported by a young, dynamic team with an average age in the mid-thirties.  The Samorëns Rosé 2017 is a blend of 75% Grenache with Syrah and Cinsault. The color is rich coral with delicate aromas of fresh berries, soft floral, hints of citrus and melon. The palate offers red berries, peach, floral and a touch of vanilla on the finish. This is a dry, medium-bodied wine with good acidity and minerality. It’s perfect to serve as an aperitif or with light pasta dishes, seafood and even dessert! Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $15  The pasta dish is made with smoked salmon, roasted squash, peas, shallots, herbs and Parmesan cheese. I served it warm, but it is delicious as a cold entrée to present throughout the summer as well. And of course, the rosé was an ideal accompaniment to the meal.   I’m counting the days until I can finally sit outside, enjoy the sunset, grill food and sip some wine! I have lots of bubbly to share with you in the coming weeks. Until then…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected]  On the eve of the summer solstice in June, I wrote about Ferraton Père & Fils flavorful Samorëns Rosé 2016 and Samorëns Blanc 2016. And now that we are just fifteen days away from the winter solstice, I decided it was time to open a few reds from Ferraton Père & Fils.  Ferraton Père & Fils estate is located in Tain l’Hermitage in Southern France and was founded in 1946 by Jean Orëns Ferraton. His son Michel, inheriting the same passion as his father, introduced the first Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph wines to the world. Michel Chapoutier, a highly regarded winemaker and close friend of the Ferratons’ introduced organic viticulture to the vineyards in 1998 and he eventually formed a partnership with the Ferratons. By the year 2000, all of the vineyards were converted to biodynamic farming and are now certified organic. What began in 1946 as a .3 hectare estate (some of these vines still produce fruit), Ferraton now has an annual production of about 350,000 bottles and is headed by oenologist Damien Brisset.   La Matinière Crozes-Hermitage 2015 is 100% Syrah. Crozes-Hermitage is the largest appellation in the Northern Rhône and is known for its exceptional Syrahs. The grapes for the La Matinière are sourced and blended from a mix of estate and neighboring vineyards in the Mercurol and Beaumont-Monteux districts of central and southern Crozes-Hermitage. The wine is the color of dark plum bordering on purple. It is very aromatic, filling the nose with cherry, dark berries, spice and earth. The palate offers a beautiful dance of dark cherry, red berries, pomegranate, pepper and cocoa. Smooth tannins with a long finish of cherry, plum and pepper add a nice kick to the finale. This is a versatile wine when it comes to pairing with food! Alcohol: 13% SRP: $23 Côtes-du-Rhône is in the Southern Rhône. The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate conducive to grape growing which also reflects in the characteristics of the wine.  Samorëns Côtes-du-Rhône Red 2015 is a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. The grapes are sourced from estate and smaller growers mostly located in the Northern Rhône. The color of the wine is dark ruby with aromas of lush red fruit, cherry, raspberry, floral and spice. The palate offers tart cherry, raspberry, fennel and pepper. It has a lovely mouthfeel with spice and pepper on a long finish. At $14 a bottle, this is a steal! Will pair well with pasta, meats and hearty fish. I popped a chocolate kiss in my mouth and took a sip of the wine. Wow! Alcohol: 14% SRP: $14 All of these wines, including Samorëns Rosé and Samorëns Blanc, will drink beautifully at any time of the year. Don’t limit your selection of wine based on what season it is. Be adventurous and have some fun with mixing it up a little. I have white and rosé wine chilling in the refrigerator all year long!
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected]  The summer solstice is upon us. And what better way to welcome the longest day of the year than with some wine from the Côtes-du-Rhône. The Côtes-du-Rhône vineyards, located in Southern France, extend from Vienne to Avignon and include 171 vineyards. The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate conducive to grape growing that also reflects in the characteristics of the wine.   Ferraton Père & Fils estate is located in Tain l’Hermitage and was founded in 1946 by Jean Orëns Ferraton. His son Michel, inheriting the same passion as his father, introduced the first Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph wines to the world. Michel Chapoutier, a highly regarded winemaker and close friend of the Ferratons’ introduced organic viticulture to the vineyards in 1998 and he eventually formed a partnership with the Ferratons. By 2000, all of the vineyards were converted to biodynamic farming and are now certified organic. What began in 1946 as a .3 hectare estate (some of these vines still produce fruit), Ferraton now has an annual production of about 350,000 bottles.  The Samorëns Blanc 2016 is a beautiful blend of 35% Roussanne, 30% Viognier, 25% Grenache Blanc, 5% Clairette and 5% Marsanne. The color is pale straw with a floral and stone fruit bouquet. The palate offers citrus, pear and apple. This medium-bodied wine is fresh and nicely balanced with a crisp floral finish. Drink as an aperitif or with light summer fare. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $14  The 2016 Samorëns Rosé is made with 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Cinsault. The color is a festive salmon pink with subtle aromas of flowers, red berries, peach and melon. The palate is soft and subtle as well, offering stone fruit, watermelon and hints of citrus zest and vanilla on the finish. This is a perfect sunset rosé!
Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $14 These are fun wines to drink over the summer…and summer is here!! Happy Wine Wednesday! Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] |
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