TN: 2021 Pierre Gonon Ardèche Les Iles Feray (France, Rhône, Ardèche)

WINE TALK
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  • 2021 Pierre Gonon Ardèche Les Iles Feray - France, Rhône, Ardèche (7/29/2023)
    A fresh, vital and crisp version of this wine. Weighs in at just 12.5% alcohol. There's an engaging nose of black pepper, dried flowers, pomegranate and raspberry. It is fine and detailed in the mouth, with tart berry fruit flavours. The finish is very minerally and it is a wine of cut and drive.

Posted from CellarTracker

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Sooooo good - absolutely love these wines

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Loved the 2019 of this.

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2021 is going to be interesting in NR. Thanks for the note.

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You are always a few months ahead of me in getting your Gonon! Mine arrive in October, once fall shipping weather hits. Looking forward to it. The Iles Feray has really come into its own these last 10 years. Thanks for the note, J!

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Finally popped one, Mr. J! Love this classicly-structured vintage. Earth, minerals and citrus. Love the iron notes in this wine, nose and palate. Nice saline cut as well. Can’t wait to pop the St Joe, and based on how this is showing, I will crack one soon.

Is the Bordeaux region showing the same? As in more cool climate?

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Indeed. I keep on being surprised by these. Expecting a bruiser, instead I get something lithe, with great aromatics. What a lovely expression of N. Rhône Syrah.

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Loved this from tank before bottling.

I think Jean sold it a bit short as it’s very much a lighter vintage, but the crazy aromatics more than compensate.

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Would love to drink this side by side with the Clape Vin des Amis.

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Back in earlier times I used to prefer the Clape, but I don’t get access to that wine like I used to. Conversely, funny that in some vintages, I actually end up allocated more Saint Joe than the Iles Feray. I think the Iles Feray of today is much better than what it was 15 years ago.

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I’m curious about this comparison as well.

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Does it remind you of 14 at all? Another difficult vintage, but the wine is so complex and interesting.

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It’s a bit softer and suppler than 2014 at the same stage.

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I’d say that has a bit more heft/grip/density, though I haven’t opened a 2021 yet. Not sure if I even got any in my allocation actually.

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complex with less grip / more approachability sounds like nirvana.
I don’t have to wait 20 years for it to get interesting.

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I found the 14 more aromatic. Looking forward to finishing the remaining 1/3 bottle tonight.

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The 14 is fabulous, though I’m speaking of the St. Joseph, not the Feray.

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I agree with this. I think Gonon may have the wine of the vintage in N.Rhone in 2014. It’s at least substantially better than Jamet Cote Rotie, Clape, and a few others I’ve tried

19

To me, it’s Juge. An amazing vintage for this producer. Killer aromatics.

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What price are you getting Feray at? $75 seems steep and worth it to just buy St. Jo.

1 Like