Château de Ferrand 2015

A balanced and very elegant Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

The estate

Located a few kilometres away from Saint-Émilion, on the right bank of Bordeaux, Château de Ferrand was founded in 1702 by Elie de Bétoulaud and was subsequently acquired by Baron Bich in December 1977. Since 1994, his daughter Pauline and her husband Philippe Chandon-Moët have taken over the running of the estate. Carrying out numerous improvements and innovations, their work was rewarded in the classification of Château de Ferrand, ranking as a Grand Cru Classé in 2012. Gonzague de Lambert has been the director of Château de Ferrand since 2017.

Made with great precision, the wines of Château de Ferrand are renowned for their structure, their aromas of ripe red fruit mixed with a delicate freshness and fine tannins.

The vineyard

Château de Ferrand’s vineyard spreads across 42 hectares of vines, of which a 32-hectare single-block vineyard is used in the production of the estate’s wines. The vines are planted at the end of the Saint Emilion limestone plateau, on a ledge that overlooks the curving Dordogne valley. This location leads to an excellent drainage of the soil thanks to runoff, which, combined with the ideal altitude and sun exposure, gives rise to fine Saint-Emilion wines.

Obtaining the Terra Vitis certification in 2012 and HEV level 3 in 2018, Château de Ferrand manages its vineyard using environmentally friendly practices, both in the vineyard (mechanical soil tillage, inter-row grassing, manual harvesting) and in the 10 hectares of forest or meadows that surround the vineyard.

The vintage

The lovely mild temperatures and low winter rainfall were followed by warmer temperatures at the end of May, ideal for a high-quality flowering period. The intense heat in July did not impact the château's vineyard, which enjoyed fresh temperatures and plenty of water in its subsoil. The drop in temperatures and the rainy episodes in August helped ensure an even veraison as well as perfect sanitary conditions. The conditions in September (hot days and cool nights) were ideal for refining the ripeness of the grapes before harvest.

The blend

Merlot (79%)

Cabernet Sauvignon (10%)

Cabernet Franc (11%).

Château de Ferrand 2017: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour

The colour is an intense, deep red.

Nose

The nose combines fruity aromas (black fruits, ripe red fruits, blackcurrant, blueberry, cherry) with floral notes.

Palate

Full and with good density, the palate seduces with its balance, velvety nuances and elegant tannins. With its persistence and deliciousness, the finish shows signs of great ageing potential.