Previous
Next
Chateau La Nerthe "Les Cassagnes" Cotes-du-Rhone Villages Rouge 2020
$25.00 USD
Description
How To Say It
Vino Joe Says...
Description
“Les Cassagnes” is a Provencal word for oak tree; so-called because the vineyard is surrounded by an oak tree forest. This wine is a blend of organic Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes grown in sandy and limestone soil containing shards of calcareous rocks. The vines average over 40 years old and are located at altitudes up to 600 feet above sea level.
Trivia: This wine comes from the town of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, which translates to “The Pope’s New Castle” and reflects a period of history when popes resided there. The name of the town was Châteauneuf Calcernier until 1893, when mayor Joseph Ducos — who was also the owner of Chateau La Nerthe(!) — officially changed the name to Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
How To Say It
Pronounced SHAH-toe la NERT lay kah-SAHN kote do roan VEE-lazh roozh
Vino Joe Says...
Vino Joe: “.”
About the wine
REGION: France | Rhone Valley | Côtes du Rhône AOC
GRAPES: 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, 2% other indigenous varieties
PH: 3.7
ACIDITY: 4.36 g/L
RESIDUAL SUGAR: < 2 g/L
ABV: 15%
AGING:
Aged on fine lees in stainless steel tanks for 9 monthsIn the glass this vintage is a bright and deep ruby color with purple hints. On the nose there are lots of ripe (but not overripe)
fruity notes with little black and red berries. On the palate we discover an elegant suppleness with fresh plum and wild herbs
aromas. Tannins are polished, making the wine round and approachable. It is a very balanced vintage, combining rich flavor
with freshness and delicacy.
Enjoy with vegetable dishes, grilled red meats and pasta bolognese. For an authentic pairing, choose a recipe
from Provence such as a beef stew with anchovies.
The exceptionally early 2020 harvest created fresh wines with great balance! Around September 20th rain delayed the picking of the grapes, slowing down the residual accumulation of sugars but accelerating the phenolic maturation of Grenache and Mourvèdre. The healthy grapes required little sorting. The 2020 vintage reveals red wines with attractive color and a delicate and balanced structure and expresses purity of the fruit and finesse of the tannins. Refined wines from the start!
What The Critics Say...
There is no better overall producer of Châteauneuf-du-Pape than Château La Nerthe. They may not make the ‘best’ wine from the region every year, but they produce incredibly consistent wines year in and year out, as do the handful of other top producers… — Michael Apstein
Provence In Your Glass
Les Cassagnes is made from a vineyard in Serignan-du-Comtat, 10 kilometres north of La Nerthe’s historic estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Cassagnes means “planted with oak trees” in local (Provencal) dialect. The hillside vegetation also features wild herbs, such as laurel, thyme and rosemary, which often present themselves in the aroma of this juicy red wine. Some tasters use the term garrigue (pronounced geh-REEG) to describe the complex fragrance.