2014 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Féraud, who is a first cousin of Laurence Féraud of Domaine du Pegau, has for years been producing some of the most elegant wines made in Châteauneuf. His son Yannick came on board starting with the 2012 vintage and, if anything, the wines seem to be improving, showing more heft and power but no loss of the light touch that defines the domain. The Férauds own five hectares of vineyard in the sandy Le Pointu lieu-dit in the northern sector of the appellation that are planted to about 90% Grenache, with random old vines of the other allowed varieties, mostly Mourvèdre Syrah, scattered about. Whole clusters are the rule here, along with fermentation in concrete vats and aging for around 18 months in a combination of foudres, demi-muids and barriques, none of them new.