Isabel Ferrando Beatus Ille Cotes du Rhone 2023

This plush, fruit-forward Cotes du Rhone is crafted by Isabel Ferrando, a former banker who purchased St Prefert in 2002 after cutting her teeth working at Domaine Raspail-Ay in nearby Gigondas. Founded in the 1920s by Fernand Serre, the St Prefert estate is an important name for Chateaneuf du Pape and was one of the first local wines to be sold in the United States.

Over the last couple of decades Ferrando has breathed new life into St Prefert by converting the whole estate to biodynamic agriculture and adding additional vineyards to their holdings. Named after Horace’s ancient poem which translates as "happy is the man" and references a simple gratitude for everyday life, her Beatus Ille red is mostly composed of Grenache along with some Cinsault sourced from La Lionne and Vedène.

The fruit is fermented and aged in cement tanks to preserve the freshness and fruit as much as possible. On the nose there are intense notes of bright red cherry, crushed berries and hints of baked earth and spice. The first sip reveals a luscious medium body, smooth texture and firm tannins along with a deep core of dark fruit which lingers long on the tongue.