St Prefert: "hitting pay dirt in 2009 & 2010"

15 Feb 2012

"One of the up and coming superstar estates in Chateauneuf" - Robert Parker

For most people, taking over ownership and control of a Chateauneuf-du-Pape property in 2002 would send them screaming for the hills. But Isabel Ferrando is made of sterner stuff and she and her consultant Philippe Cambié made some of the best 2003s, and have gone from strength to strength. Isabel, a former banker and still an artist, does not stand still and now, confident of her vineyards - many replanted - is converting to organic farming. In 2009 and 2010, she used entirely whole bunch fermentation for the first time, judging that the stems were ripe enough to add finesse and a deft touch to the wine.

The St-Prefert estate is unusual in having a large proportion of Mourvedre which lends savoury notes and considerable character to the red, though her Grenache is no slouch and in those wines where it dominates has itself huge complexity. Many of the vines here are very old and yields are tiny, and standing among these old and gnarly plants leaning into the mistral a few years ago made one realise the harsh conditions that produce this intense fruit. Additionally, as one of the most sophisticated vigneronnes in the village, Isabel's winemaking is gentle and measured and the structure and texture of this wine is Burgundian even if the rest of it is absolutely Chateauneuf. /CW

'Domaine Saint Prefert is hitting pay dirt again in 2009 and 2010. If you haven’t discovered it yet, this is an up-and-coming superstar.' - Robert Parker

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