Ferraton Père & Fils : Le Méal 2016

The crown jewel of the Ferraton holdings is a parcel of le Méal. The 2016 Ermitage Le Méal is creamy, supple and sexy, with attractive notes of purple raspberries, black olives and complex herb shadings. It's full-bodied, with a lingering, velvety finish.

Ripe, with raspberry and boysenberry pâte de fruit notes at the core, wrapped in licorice, tobacco and singed alder details. Dense, but shows excellent cut and drive on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2035. 140 cases made, 20 cases imported.

A brooding and tightly wound but promising nose of lapsang souchong tea leaf, fresh blackberry and liquorice. In the mouth it's monolithic, concentrated and powerful. The tannins are intense but they have an inner sweetness, remaining very savoury and saline on the finish nonetheless. This wine is straight in profile, and full of energy and freshness with exceptional length.

Aromas of licorice, dark stones, pepper and a wealth of fragrant spices, as well as tar and spiced dark chocolate. The palate has a very intense feel with plate-like tannins, carrying a wealth of dark plums, dark chocolate and long, slow-burning spices. Try from 2026.

Reductive nose that obscures the fruit. More restrained and gentle than their other cuvées, and with less substance on the palate too. Perhaps suited for earlier drinking? Even so, the tannic feel needs time. (RH)

Dark purple. Highly expressive black and blue fruit preserve, exotic spice, peony and smoked meat scents show excellent clarity and pick up hints of vanilla and licorice with air. Deeply concentrated, spice-tinged dark berry and bitter cherry flavors are complemented by a hint of candied flowers on the back half. Broad and chewy in texture, finishing with strong, floral- and spice-dominated persistence and youthful tannins that lend solid grip. Fermented in concrete tanks and raised in oak demi-muids, 40% of them new, for 18 months.

An aromatic profile that shows good ripeness with quality oak. The palate is serious, displaying lovely, long‑lined sap. A mouthfeel that charms with its finesse and texture. It has potential and already shows finesse.