Cinsault Wine

Winemaker Description 

GRAPES: Cinsault (100%). 

Cinsault has been farmed in the Bekaa Valley since the mid-19th century before ceding the way to new imported varieties. In 2014, Domaine des Tourelles decided to revive this grape by searching out very old Cinsault vines, over 50 years of age, and fermenting the wines in concrete tanks using wild yeasts and nothing else to offer the purest expression of that grape. The result is a supple wine that beautifully reflects the terroir of the Bekaa Valley, with an aging potential of several years.

Published by Jancis Robinson

There is not much I can say about Bekaa-born Faouzi Issa co-owner and winemaker of Domaine des Tourelles in the Bekaa Valley, that has not already been said by Jancis and Tam but in a week in which Lebanon has again been in the news because of death and destruction, I wanted to celebrate the life that continues to be created every year at Domaine des Tourelles in the most challenging circumstances imaginable. (See Michael Karam’s Lessons in wine-region survival.)

Issa told me on Wednesday that the nearest pager explosion to them was 1 km away from the winery.

In 2018, the year Domaine des Tourelles celebrated its 150th anniversary, Jancis’s articles Lebanon and the new Serge Hochar? and Lebanon’s oldest winery told of Issa’s journey into wine, via Bordeaux’s Château Margaux and René Rostaing in the Rhône, as well as giving a brief history of Domaine des Tourelles, Lebanese wine more generally and the arrival of Cinsault in the country in the 19th century along with Carignan and Grenache.

Tam continued the story in 2022 in more personal terms in Old-vine wines – part 1 Lebanon, describing Issa as ‘that mesmeric combination of scientist, engineer and romantic’, at the same time highlighting Issa’s commitment to old vines.

The first vintage of this wine was 2014, which was when Issa realised that the old vines offered something special and deserved to be bottled separately (they now have four wines in their Old Vine Collection). He explains, ‘Cinsault has been farmed in the Bekaa Valley since the mid 19th century before ceding the way to new imported varieties.’ For many a year, it was the most widely planted variety in the country but it is now much less popular than it once was.

Memo Serving Suggestions

Food Pairings: The perfect match for Levantine and Mediterranean cuisine. It pairs excellently with lamb chops, beef tagine, grilled vegetables (ratatouille), or a classic Mezze platter.

Famille Ferrando · Châteauneuf-du-Pape F601 · 2023

100% Old-Vine Cinsault · Rhône Valley, France · 750ml · Special Order — Pre-Sale Price

Producer & Terroir

F601 puts Cinsault at the center of Famille Isabel Ferrando’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape story. Sourced from vines planted in 1928 in the historic Saint-Préfert F601 parcel, this limited-production cuvée offers a distinctive alternative to the appellation’s more familiar Grenache-led reds.

Since her debut vintage in 2003, Isabel Ferrando has built her work around understanding the estate’s individual terroirs. Today, working alongside her daughter Guillemette, she continues that pursuit under the Famille Isabel Ferrando name. F601 is a particularly personal expression of that vineyard focus.

Tasting Notes

Smoky black fruit, roasted herbs, licorice and Provençal spices shape an aromatic profile with a savory hint of tapenade. The medium- to full-bodied palate combines layered fruit with fine tannins, purity and finesse, as described in Jeb Dunnuck’s review below.

Winemaker Notes

Isabel Ferrando: "It took me 16 years of observation and learning to develop a deep understanding and a personal relationship with my terroir, guided by instinct and feeling. With this vintage, I have launched “F601”, the pure and absolute expression of my experience with my parcel F601 of Saint Prefert and the old-vine Cinsault, planted in 1928, a singular and unique expression. At this point in my life, I am thrilled to share my enchantment for this remarquable wine.”

100% old-vine Cinsault planted in 1928 made with whole clusters in one used demi-muid barrel. Very limited production and packaged in a special wooden box.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Jeb Dunnuck, 96 Points · November 2025: "From vines planted in 1928, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape F601 (100% Cinsault) was vinified with 40% whole clusters and aged in a single amphora. It offers smoky black fruits, roasted herbs, licorice, Provençal spices, and even a hint of tapenade, showing beautiful complexity and nuance in its aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, focused, and layered, it has fine tannins, beautiful purity, and finesse. Tasted twice with consistent notes."

Food Pairings

Consider roasted duck, herb-crusted lamb, game birds, veal or wild mushroom risotto. These savory dishes complement the wine’s herbal aromatics and refined texture.

Wine Details

• Producer: Famille Ferrando
• Cuvée: F601
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
• Region: Southern Rhône, Rhône Valley, France
• Vineyard: Saint-Préfert, F601 parcel
• Grape: 100% Cinsault
• Vines planted: 1928
• Style: Red wine
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Presentation: Special wooden box
• Availability: Special Order — Pre-Sale Price