2007 Plan de Dieu, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Domaine Ferraton

2007 is seen by many as the best vintage in the Southern Rhône since 1990; some go even further back, citing the very greatest of years such as 1947. This is immediately clear from the bright deep colour, then the harmonious nose which marries spice, pepper and hedgerow. The palate is delicious now, with honours spread evenly over the constituent grape varieties; sweet concentrated red-berried fruit from the Grenache, definition and purity from the Syrah and darker earthy grip from the Mourvèdre. The promotion of Plan De Dieu is more than justified by this splendid wine!. Excellent with casseroles and red meat.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)

The combination of a rejuvenated Ferraton, a superlative vintage, and a new appellation is an exciting prospect indeed. Plan de Dieu is an evocatively named limestone plateau located between Orange and the Dentelles de Montmirail, its alleged monastic heritage not immediately evident, it has to be said. An alumnus of Smith Haute Lafitte in Bordeaux, Grégorie Viennois is now making the wines at Ferraton, and making them very well indeed, especially in the near-perfect year of 2007.