From the Rhone Valley, France is GIWC top 20 winner, La Vieille Ferme Ventoux Rouge 2020.
The Perrin Family have been producing wine in the Rhone since the early 1900s, but it was in 1970 that La Vielle Ferme or The Old Farm was established. Now operating for over 50 years, the winery produces authentic, honest and approachable wines. Jean Pierre and Francois Perrin have five generations of experience behind them as they ensure the family winery is cared for with extra attention and care. Continuously producing excellent Vintages, La Vielle Ferme has become one of the Rhone Valley’s most recognised wine labels.
The Rhone Valley’s unique terrain was established during the last ice age as a glacier forced its way through the landscape that the Rhone River now runs through. The seas from the tertiary period left deposits around the base of chalky Mount Ventoux, allowing red Mediterranean soils to blend well with chalk debris and round stones.
La Vielle wines are all unique, as one of the world’s most recognised Rhone brands. The Ferme Ventoux Rouge sits in great company, as it is part of the family that also produces the legendary Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage which can retail for over $700 a bottle.
2020 saw warm temperatures in the summer and a wild winter which made for perfect conditions for the vintage. The grapes produced were beautifully juicy with reasonable alcohol levels and good acidity.
The La Vieille Ferme Ventoux Rouge has a pretty purple colour with shiny reflections. On the nose, it reveals a seductive bouquet of red fruit and spices. Full of delicacy, the palate is fresh and well balanced, with aromas of cherries and very soft tannins which gives the wine great drinkability.
The wine is best paired with roasted meat dishes and mature cheese and drinks well right now. However, it can age comfortably for up to five years from release. It has a wide appeal, ready for anyone that seeks easy drinking and a fruit-forward red. With excellent value in every glass, it is an approachable introduction to the great wines of the Rhone Valley.
FAST FACTS:
Winery Name: La Vieille Ferme
Location: Rhone Valley
Region & Country: Rhone Valley, France
Grape Variety/Varieties: Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache
'Fun Fact' about the wine/winery/winemaker? La Vieille Ferme is part of the Perrin Family, owners of the famous Château de Beaucastel and producers of some of the most recognised Rhone Valley wines in the world including the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage as well as the Miraval brand – a collaboration with the Pitt/Jolie family with a focus on Rosé.
