2019 Ferriere

Striking aromas of sweet wild berries, violets, dark chocolate and loamy soil introduce the 2019 Ferrière, a full-bodied, velvety and concentrated wine that’s seamless and complete, with a rich, dramatic core of fruit, lively acids and a long, resonant finish. From biodynamic-farmed clay-rich gravels, this 18-hectare estate (formerly leased to Château Lascombes) possesses an usually high proportion of old vines, with fully one-third of their vineyards over 70 years of age.

The 2019 Ferrière was tasted from a bottle sent by Clare Lurton following our conversation via Zoom. This Margaux has a really lovely bouquet of black plum and hints of blue fruit and crushed violet, then later orange zest. The palate is rounded and smooth. While not as deep or as grippy as others, this is endearingly harmonious and sensual, with a pure, caressing finish. I like the detail here, something I never used to find in Ferrière when I was tasting it 15 or 20 years ago. A delightful 2019 that might be deceptively long-lived.

The 2019 Ferrière is a dense, packed wine, just as it was from barrel. Black fruit, graphite plum, licorice and spice infuse the 2019 with tremendous character. This powerful, brooding Margaux is going to need at least a few years to come together. It sure is alluring in this tasting. Readers will have to be patient, though. The tannins are pretty formidable. Ferrière was impressive en primeur. It is equally compelling today.