Grenache 75%, Cinsault 12%, Mourvedre 11%, Syrah 2%

"Supple and mouthfilling, with silky tannins upholding cherry, plum and pretty lavender notes. Grilled garrigue plays out on the finish, which shows sneaky length and elegance. Seductive in feel, with impressive energy, too, for a balanced, harmonious impression. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2040." -Wine Spectator

Isabel Ferrando has drawn attention since her debut 2003 vintage. Despite being a newcomer to the region, leaving a career in finance to learn winemaking, she has become a leading face of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s modern era. Fans know her wines under the Domaine St.-Préfert label, but in 2020 she began a new chapter, changing the name to Famille Isabel Ferrando. Joined by daughter Guillemette (pictured above), she returned to the Châteauneuf tradition of blending her vineyard parcels into a single cuvée. Sourced from Ferrando’s original holdings in the Les Serres lieu-dit planted to Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvèdre in the hottest, driest part of the appellation, it’s a wine of elegance and freshness.

Fearless

No one would have blamed Isabel Ferrando if she had decided to back out. In early September of 2002, Ferrando was due to sign a contract to buy Domaine St.-Préfert, a winery in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. But just two days before the signing, a massive storm dumped 16 inches of rain on the region in fewer than 32 hours, destroying roads, knocking out electricity and flooding vineyards. The storm killed more than 30 people in the south of France and inflicted 1.3 billion euros worth of damage. It also destroyed much of Châteauneuf's 2002 vintage, on the vine. Yet Ferrando, undeterred by what some would have considered a bad omen, showed up at the bank the day after the storm to complete the paperwork and shake hands with the seller. She was not a winemaker-her wine experience consisted of two years of viticulture school and one internship. She had little money. With the backing of her future husband, Germain Giraud, a successful business owner and politician, she was able to take out a loan in order to pay the 2.6 million euros being asked for 33 acres of vines, a cellar and three small houses. After she signed, Giraud teased, "If you don't lose money, it will be OK." Wine Spectator's Mitch Frank explains.