Ferraton Pere et Fils, Crozes-Hermitage (Rhône Valley, France) 2012

Ferraton has risen like a rocket since Michel Chapoutier took this old house under his exceedingly able control, and this is a fine case in point.  Crozes-Hermitage is the appellation in the northern Rhône that most frequently disappoints, but that’s hardly an issue in this case.  The wine shows terrific balance between primary Syrah fruit and the savory, pleasantly earthy accents that make renditions of this grape from the northern Rhône utterly inimitable elsewhere…despite hundreds thousands of attempts in other quarters.  Serve this with any preparation of lamb and it will prove totally convincing…for less than twenty bucks.