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72 Châteauneuf-du-Pape AC 2005
Domaine de FerrandGrape:95% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre/Cinsault/Syrah (14.5% alc.)
2004 was the first vintage that Philippe aged his Châteauneuf in cuve, which helped to retain a little more fruit, freshness and structure, taking Ferrand up a notch on the quality ladder. Yields are tiny (20 hectos per hectare) from 90 year old vines. The 2005 is a superb effort exuding black fruits, liquorice and spice, with a touch of provencal herbs and influence of limestone. For drinking now to 2015+.
Technical Information Winemaker: Philippe Bravay Location: Between Orange & Châteauneuf du Pape (Quartier les Grès) Size of
domaine:16 hectares inc 5.20 hectares of CNDP – 12,000 bts produced. 60% bottled, rest negoce. Grape: 95% Grenache, 5% Syrah/Mourvèdre/Cinsault. Planted between 1910-1930 in 4 parcels. 3000 pieds in gobelet formation planted on R110 rootstock. Terroir: More stoney than CDR (river pebbles) on upper terraces of the Reis and Wurm (facing north). Essentially mix of clay, limestone and sand. Gentle hillsides. Viticulture: Organic fertilisers added irregularly after soil analysis. No chemicals used at all. Ploughs the soil 3-4 times from April to mid-July, working dead vine branches back into the soil after harvest. Debuds but vendanges en verts not systematic. Followed by 2 oenologues (1 of whom is also soil technician) for both work in vineyard and winery. Manual harvest with table de trie to further check quality of grapes. 26 hectos per hectare in 04, 28 hectos per hectare in 05. Vinification: 90% destalked. Natural indigenous yeasts only. Maceration à froid for 2 days to avoid explosive start to the fermentation. Mostly ferments at 27/28° with 30° max. Remontage morning and afternoon for 6 days of 25% of the volume of the cuve, 20 day cuvaison follows. Press wine assembled at the start. Racked once after alcoholic fermentation and again after malo fermentation – then not touched. Prefers to keep max amount of C02 possible during elevage. Bottled by contract bottler in May after 20 months with no filtration but light gelatine fining. Cuvaison and elevage in 04 all in tank (either cement or stainless steel). Previously used 80% cuve, and 20% oak (mix of foudres/demi-muids, fûts). Press: