Variety: 85% Grenache; 10% Syrah; 5% Cinsault
Region: Cotes-du-Rhone, France
Cost: $16 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Garnet core with ruby reflections. Aromas of very ripe red fruits. Nicely structured. Blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and liquorice. Nice spices and herbs.
My Review: Kicking off 2020 with a wine review. To be fair, I had the wine in 2019, but whatever….time is a construct anyways. If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent the last two to six weeks eating and drinking across families and holidays. My liver may be ready for a break, but that doesn’t mean that the reviews have to stop. Which brings us here.
So, kicking off the year, how was the 2017 Ferraton Pere & Fils Cotes-du-Rhone “Samorens” Red?
In the glass, the wine showed garnet colours. It was a vibrant red, and only slightly opaque, reminding me of Pinot Noirs from Oregon that you can just see through when holding them up to the light. On the nose I picked up aromas of red fruit, cherries, and spice, which brightened and added some liquorice as the wine opened up.
In the mouth the wine was light to medium bodied. I picked up flavours of red fruit (cherries and berries). Smooth through the mid-palate, there was a hint of tartness at the finish. Overall it was very sippable.
My wife and I paired the 2017 Ferraton Pere & Fils Cotes-du-Rhone “Samorens” Red with grilled pork chops, green beans, and crispy red potatoes. The pairing was good enough, but I think the only error we made was using a coffee based rub on the pork chops. While tasty, it wasn’t the best pairing with the wine; I think something with more herb would have been better.
Overall I liked the 2017 Ferraton Pere & Fils Cotes-du-Rhone “Samorens” Red. It didn’t blow me away, but for $16 I didn’t need it to. It’s a good mid-week sipper that’s versatile. The lightness of the wine makes it easy to pair with red or white meats, but it doesn’t require food, which is something I always look for in a wine.
Editor’s Note: I received this wine as a free sample for review.
