Chateau de Ferrand 2016: A Wine with History, But Did It Deliver?
Earlier this week, I tasted a bottled of Chateau de Ferrand 2016—a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé with a fascinating backstory. The chateau is from the 18th century, when poet Elie de Bétoulaud built it as a tribute to Louis XIV. His unexpected death (in a carriage, no less) left the estate to be won through a poetic duel between his great-grandnephews—can you imagine winning a chateau based on your literary prowess! The estate is now owned by the Moët family, who carry that legacy forward.
“The story of a wine often adds to its appeal, but the glass still has to speak for itself.”
We tasted the 2016 vintage, a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. In the glass, it was a medium to deep garnet color, but the first few sips had us a bit confused. The wine had an off-note—at first, we weren’t sure whether it was corked or simply a little cooked. Swirling did help, bringing out more minerality and herbal notes. With a little time, primary notes of vegetation, earth, and smokiness appeared, suggesting it might show better with aeration or a double decant. Secondary notes revealed red fruits, honey, prunes and raisins, but overall the acidity took center stage with a tart edge.
“A good wine sometimes just requires patience. But was this one hiding its best self, or had we missed its prime?”
Quintus 2019: A Wine Yearned for in the Glass
To get a better sense of Saint-Émilion wines, we opened a bottle of Quintus 2019, composed of 55.4% Merlot and 44.6% Cabernet Franc. From the first sniff, this wine was different. Medium to deep cherry, on the nose, the wine immediately had my attention—caramel, nougat and a surprisingly zesty hit of pink guava. It was warm, multilayered and thoroughly hard to argue with.
The palate brought more pink guava and flowers, with honeysuckle, blackcurrant and a little spice joining in. It was light-bodied, but boasted an impressively long finish. In contrast to the Chateau de Ferrand, which was closed at first and gradually blossomed after some time, the Quintus 2019 was lovely right out of the gates.
“Certain wines require patience, while others welcome you outright—Quintus 19 was the latter.”
Two Wines, Two Experiences, Final Thoughts
The Chateau de Ferrand 2016 is a wine that invites curiosity. While our bottle had some initial funk, it turned out that it just needed more time or the right environment to give more of itself. The wine’s structure, acidity, and minerality point to a wine that evolves, so it is one I would revisit, especially with proper aeration. Surely, it certainly has something fascinating given its great history and craftsmanship.
The Quintus 2019, by contrast, was bright, expressive, and enjoyable from the first sip. Its harmony of fruit, florals, and spice made it a standout that was perfectly sippable on its own. Though it was instantly impressive, Chateau de Ferrand is an experience made for those who enjoy the slow forward of discovering a wine’s evolving character.
Would I taste a Chateau de Ferrand 2016 again? Of course, but aeration and a different bottle. Like some wines, this one may be at its best after some time in the glass. In the meantime, Quintus 2019 gave instant pleasure, showing that Saint-Émilion will always surprise and delight, if in different ways.
Some wines require effort to wield their magic, some just distribute it. This was one of those days where both types showed up in the glass.
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