Variety: 85% Grenache; 10% Syrah; 5% Cinsault
Region: Rhone, France
Cost: $14 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Garnet core with ruby reflections for the colour. Aromas of very ripe red fruits. Nicely structured. Aromas of blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and liquorice. Nice spices and herbs.
My Review: Kicking off the week with a bit of French wine – there are worse things to write about on a Monday. A few weeks back a pair of French wines showed up at my apartment, and my wife and I recently opened up one of them – the 2015 Ferraton Pere & Fils Cotes du Rhone Samorëns.
In the glass, the wine showed clear garnet colours. On the nose, the wine showed a bit hot (it’s 14% alcohol/volume), while in the mouth the wine presented flavours of dark berry and liquorice with a tart, light mouthfeel. We paired the wine with tuna steaks and mushroom risotto, and the lighter mouthfeel and tart berry notes were a nice counter to the richness of the tuna and the earthiness of the risotto.
I liked the wine well enough, and while it didn’t blow me away, it was enjoyable and for $14, it’s a good enough value to recommend picking up a bottle for those mid-week wine needs that we all have. I don’t know that I’d open it for that special occasion, but I’d certainly enjoy it with friends when we grab drinks at someone’s house during the week.
Editor’s Note: I received this wine as a free sample for review.
