Cuvée des Cadettes Châteauneuf-du-Pape
VINTAGE
2020
COUNTRY
France
TABLE #
5210
REGION
Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
94
Plum reduction and cherry preserves are ripe and decadent in this red, backed up by slightly chewy tannins that give this good grip. Shows attractive concentration, but good energy too, with crushed iron laying a solid groundwork, while singed alder, dried flowers and toasted aniseed detail the long finish. Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2035. 50 cases imported.
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 a selection made from the oldest plots with vines aged 80 to 100 years old planted in sandy clay soil. The grapes are party destemmed and co-fermented in a wooden tronconic vat with wild yeast native to the vineyard. Pumping overs and punching downs are done during fermentation to ensure the best extraction of the berry compounds. Maceration lasts 4 weeks and the wine is racked into concrete tanks for malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged for 12 months partly in large wooden casks or foudres (50%) and partly in oak barrels (25% of which are new).
Mourvèdre (48%), Syrah (32%), Grenache (20%)
12 months in foudres – old French oak casks – and French oak barrels (25% new)
The 2020 vintage had good weather overall. Low rainfall through the year was enough for the soil to build a water reserve and allow the vines to cope with the summer heat wave. Rains at the end of August and end of September slowed the maturity of the grapes. Harvest began in late August. The grapes were generous with a higher quantity than the previous vintage.
Dark red in color, this elegant and sophisticated wine offers notes of black cherry, blueberry, kirsch, and pepper. The finish is long and the wine shows great aging potential.
Beef stew, duck breast.
