Pale copper color; raspberry, red berries, white flowers on the nose; raspberry rules the palate with some light cherry and strawberry undertones.
Light-medium body; fresh, nicely defined fruit; blend of 50% grenache, 30% syrah, 20% cinsault. Slice of red watermelon appears on mid-palate. Nice minerality with good acidity, crisp with no tartness, clean, balanced.
A very nice effort at very nice price. The Ferraton Père & Fils estate in Tain l’Hermitage was founded in 1946 by Jean Orëns Ferraton, a vigneron and son of a vigneron. His son, Michael, shared Jean’s passion for winemaking in the northern Rhône, where the cool mistral winds help bring out the acidity and make the wines less fruity than southern Rhône. In 1998, Ferraton Père & Fils began implementing a biodynamic farming program to emphasize the terroir.
In 2004, Michel Chapoutier purchased the estate while maintaining its direction. In 2013, the entire winery and cellars were updated with state-of-the-art equipment and fermentation tanks. This wine comes from those improved facilities, and the cleanliness and freshness of this rosé reflect the improvements.
The winery and vineyards are located in hallowed grounds of the northern Rhône—Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, and Saint-Joseph. The winery also obtains grapes from long-time associates in throughout the Rhône. They make the whole panoply from the region: Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Comas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Tavel, Gigondas, and Saint-Peray. In short, Ferraton Père & Fils is a major player in the Rhône wine production region of eastern France, drawing grapes from wineries throughout the region.
Today, Ferraton is headed by oenologist Damien Brisset. “When it comes to securing the best fruit or juice, it’s all about good personal relationships,” Brisset says. “Many contracts in this part of the world are old-fashioned handshake deals.”
Ferraton Père & Fils Côtes du Rhône Samorëns Rosé 2016 is very well done rosé from a major Rhône player. Freshness and clarity of the fruit particularly stand out. Terrific on a summer day with some strawberries and convivial friends at hand, but like most rosé it can be enjoyed any time, any season. $11-13
