Ferraton Pere & Fils Condrieu Les Mandouls, Rhone, France

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The most surprising of these whites is the 2010 Condrieu Les Mandouls. From an exceptional vintage in Condrieu, it possesses good minerality, abundant notes of honeysuckle, white peaches and flowers, medium body and 1-2 years of drinkability. If the turn around in quality of the Paul Jaboulet-Aine wines is the biggest good news story of qualitative improvement in the northern Rhone, what Michel Chapoutier has accomplished with Ferraton is a close second. This is definitely a name to be taken seriously, as Chapoutier has expanded the portfolio and continues to upgrade the quality across the board. Ferraton’s 2009s and 2010s are the finest wines made to date. There appears to be three levels of quality now being produced, beginning with the generic bottlings, to the single vineyard (or lieu-dit) offerings, followed by the top of the line, more expensive, limited production efforts called selections parcellaires.Importer: A French Paradox, Peoria, IL; tel. (309) 682-8994

Another strong effort from Ferraton is the 2009 Condrieu Les Mandouls. This 100% Viognier reveals exotic notes of lychee nuts, honeysuckle, peach and mango, good acidity, a touch of minerality and a long finish. This cuvee is aged completely in stainless steel prior to bottling. Ferraton’s parent company, Chapoutier, has done an excellent job in St.-Peray working with Marsanne and Roussanne. This long-forgotten appellation may turn out to be the Northern Rhone’s white wine answer to Burgundy’s Chablis. As for the 2009 red wines, this is the best portfolio of dry red wines Ferraton has yet produced.Importer: A French Paradox, Peoria, IL; tel. (309) 682-8994