Chateau La Nerthe
Cuvée des Cadettes Châteauneuf-du-Pape
VINTAGE
2016
COUNTRY
France
TABLE #
5203
REGION
Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP/ Rhone
95
Ripe and well-packed, with warm plum, blackberry and boysenberry flavors, this drips with fruit but displays drive too. Sparkles of anise and fruitcake add energy, while a streak of graphite gives the finish cut. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Best from 2020 through 2035
Château La Nerthe is one of the oldest estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and extends over 220 acres around the castle. Cuvée des Cadettes is not a selection made in the cellar, but a wine crafted from a unique, 20 acre vineyard planted with 85 to 100 year-old vines. The plots that make up this Cuvée are mainly based on sandy-clay soils which provide outstanding quality tannins. This Cuvée is co-fermentated, hand harvested and hand sorted. Alcoholic fermentation occurs directly after maceration, with wild yeast native to the vineyard. The intensity of pumping over and punching down is defined by tasting the fermenting juice to ensure the best extraction of the berry compounds. Maceration lasts 3 weeks and the wines are racked into concrete tanks for malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged 12 months in 100% small French oak barrels and blending takes place shortly before bottling.
52% Grenache Noir, 38% Syrah, 10% Mouvèdre
12 months partly in large wooden casks and partly in new oak barrels
Château La Nerthe experienced a perfect winter with mild temperatures. That turned into a perfect spring which benefited from rainfalls free of frost and plentiful water reserves. It was a very hot summer. The Southern Rhône Valley was among the luckiest regions that year, particularly protected throughout the year from harsh weather compared to other areas in France. This all led to a most exceptional vintage. Certainly their best vintage since the legendary 1990 vintage.
This deep ruby, intense Grenache blend offers a very expressive nose full of black cherry, blackcurrant and sweet spice notes. On the palate, expect a fresh and well-balanced wine enhanced with graphite and boysenberries aromas. Perfectly matured tannins give the feeling of a long, full-bodied and elegant wine that can age for a number of years with a drinking window of 2018 – 2033.
To enjoy with hearty red meat dishes like beef stew and along with lighter meats like duck fillet in a pepper sauce.
