Our ears immediately pricked up when two of the Southern Rhône’s most admired producers, Vincent Avril and Julian Barrot, quite independently of each other, recommended Yannick Feraud as the most talented young grower in Châteauneuf du Pape today. We went there to see for ourselves and were instantly bowled over by the character, charm and beauty of the wines.
Domaine Feraud et Fils was established in 1984, but it wasn’t until Yannick took over from his father Eddie in 2012 that the Domaine’s star started to rise. The raw materials are unquestionably there: five hectares of prime old vines all in the Pointu and Rayas sectors, planted predominantly with Grenache (85%), 10% Mourvèdre and the rest a mixture of other permitted co-planted varieties. And now the Domaine is starting to fully exploit such blessed vineyards. Rigour in the vines and simplicity in the cellar are the best ways of describing Yannick’s approach. His aim is to pick fully ripe fruit, but when the berries are still fresh and intact. The health of the bunches is paramount, for Yannick ferments without destemming, naturally, with no added yeast. Fermentation takes place in concrete tanks before élévage over two springs in old oak tonneaux. Yannick’s hard work, know-how and passion have yielded wines of striking finesse and soul.