Medium copper-rose color; strawberry, raspberry, cherry candy on the nose; raspberry, strawberry, maraschino cherry, white peach, hint of citrus on the palate.
Dry with plenty of red fruit fruitiness; blend of grenache (75%), syrah, cinsault from vineyards on the right bank of the Rhône. Minerality kicks in on the finish. Medium body. Crisp, clean, refreshing, nice balancing acidity.
Fermented in stainless steel; many of lots, but not all, underwent malolactic fermentation. The various lots were then blended. In contrast, in 2015, none of the juice underwent malolactic fermentation; in 2016 most did. The winery aims for the best wine that can be made with the grapes God gives them; their consistent excellence is a testament to their skill and attention to quality.
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 (organic farming, plus more) 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 effort 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 throughout the Rhône. They include the whole panoply of 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, adroitly drawing grapes from wineries throughout the region and consistently producing outstanding efforts across many styles and price points.
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.” The mission statement (labeled “A Promise” on the website) includes: “Believing in audacity. To dare. To create. With a freedom to imagine specific and rare wines.” That promise applies to their Samorëns efforts (there is a white and a red, too), certainly to the flexibility they bring to their bottlings in pursuit of quality.
Ferraton Père & Fils Côtes du Rhône Samorëns Rosé 2017 is classic grenache-based rosé using classic Rhône grapes from a quality maker. The crispness, minerality, and citrus-acidity make it versatile with many foods. As a dry rosé with good fruit, this works as an aperitif or for solo sipping around the pool, back yard, or with friends in the air conditioned rooms. Food pair with rich fish such as salmon or tuna, shellfish, poultry, roasted beet salad with goat cheese and pistachios, mushroom quiche, many types of cheese. $11-15
