Ferraton Crozes-Hermitage Calendes

In the Roman calendar, the ‘calends’ was the first day of every month. Over time, it came to mean “time” or “epoch” and this is where we got the Latin phrase “ad calendas graecas”, which is often used ironically to describe something that never happens because the Greeks didn’t have calends. Queen Isabella of England famously replied to Philip II of Spain when he asked her for a favour: “Your orders will be fulfilled, good King, in the Greek Calends”. In other words, never. However, this wine with the name Ferraton Crozes-Hermitage Calendes, has nothing to do with the ironic meaning of something never happening. Because when Michel Ferraton took over from his father in the historic winery in the heart of Tain l'Hermitage, and with the help of the prestigious Michel Chapoutier, he started using biodynamic methods following the lunar cycles, and saw his dream come true. A dream of interpreting the different terroirs to offer an identity of its own.

From sedimentary and granitic plots, Ferraton Crozes-Hermitage Calendes is made from the three great terroirs of the Crozes-Hermitage denomination in the Rhône. A single-variety Syrah that is organically grown using biodynamic principles. Once the grapes reach the winery, they are destemmed and then fermented in concrete tanks. Extraction is carried out through pigeage and pumping over and maceration for 20 days at a controlled temperature. Finally, the wine is partially aged in demi-muid foudres for 8 months.

As a result, Ferraton Crozes-Hermitage Calendes is a wine with impressive value for money made by an emblematic maison of the Rhône and guarded by one of the leading biodynamic figures in France. A perfect combination to offer a tribute to the passage of time, which gives meaning to the winemaker’s authentic work.