Chateau la Nerthe
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Chateau la Nerthe,
For laying down,
The final blend this year will be the usual cornucopia of Grenache, Syrah , Mourvèdre and Cinsault, the Syrah now nearly achieving parity with the Grenache (and in terms of taste profile it’s certainly just as influential). Maturation has been 60 percent in barrel, 40 percent in foudre and the wine rejoices in classic ripeness and purity, aromatic and subtle intensity. An archetype from the modern end of the spectrum, its modernity is tempered by a robust respect for provenance and the dexterity of an extremely gifted winemaker. Drink 2019-2025.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Chateau la Nerthe,
Ready, but will improve,
La Nerthe has always majored on the fruity side of the Châteauneuf profile. Sometimes, given the venerable vines in situ and the almost perfect cellars, I have hoped for a little more “authenticity” here. Ralph may have previously been making wine for Jaboulet in the North, but this is his most clearly articulated aspiration. One should rejoice in Grenache and garland it in the inevitable complexity offered by the famous palette of varietals, without losing sight of the essential features that elevated the appellation in the first place. The savoury, pleasantly herbal personality of the 2015, sitting perfectly within a dark fruit core, provides a most encouraging expression of this mission statement. Drink 2020-2028.
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer
The grandest of all the properties in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the one closest to actually having a castle, La Nerthe is a virtually contiguous vineyard, with 90 hectares of calcareous and sandy soils located just to the east of the village. With each new vintage they enhance their reputation as one of the leading “classically modern” estates in the region.
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer
The grandest of all the properties in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the one closest to actually having a castle, La Nerthe is a virtually contiguous vineyard, with 90 hectares of calcareous and sandy soils located just to the east of the village. With each new vintage they enhance their reputation as one of the leading “classically modern” estates in the region.
Chateau la Nerthe,
Ready, but will keep,
Made from equal proportions of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, and aged in new barrique this is the nearest the Rhône come to a Pomerol. The velvety texture coats a most generous fruit-basket. This will need a decade to really sing; the 2005 is not quite as good, and is still very closed!
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer, February 2012
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer, February 2012
La Nerthe is one of the few Rhône properties where the grandeur of the wines is perfectly captured by the property itself. Our Fine Wine team love to visit because everything, the elegance of the wines included, makes them think that they are in Bordeaux. Christian Voeux is particularly pleased with the 2010 vintage which, he advises, shares the rigour and precision of the 2005 and the generous fruit character of the 2007. As the 2007 la Nerthe was our best-seller of that particular vintage, these are words that we are happy to hear...
Chateau la Nerthe,
Drink now,
This wine is a show stopper! Bang for bucks, it's also my Bargain of the Vintage (18.5/20) as well as Most Exciting Wine. With fabulously ripe and creamy framboise notes on the nose, a coating of gorgeous silky tannins and a really generous core of ripe plump red fruits, this is scrumptious!!!
(Simon Staples, BBR Fine Wine Sales Director)
Ch. la Nerthe really grabbed me for its firm, polished style which will make excellent drinking from soon after shipment to 2020 . A triumph.
(Tom Cave, BBR Cellar Plan Manager)
From the more modern end of the Châteauneuf du Pape spectrum, the 2007 La Nerthe has an attractive nose of blackberry and spice, a wonderfully complete and balanced palate and particularly well-managed tannins, as so often at La Nerthe, adding an extra dimension of quality.
(Jake Dean, BBR Fine Wine Sales Manager)
(Simon Staples, BBR Fine Wine Sales Director)
Ch. la Nerthe really grabbed me for its firm, polished style which will make excellent drinking from soon after shipment to 2020 . A triumph.
(Tom Cave, BBR Cellar Plan Manager)
From the more modern end of the Châteauneuf du Pape spectrum, the 2007 La Nerthe has an attractive nose of blackberry and spice, a wonderfully complete and balanced palate and particularly well-managed tannins, as so often at La Nerthe, adding an extra dimension of quality.
(Jake Dean, BBR Fine Wine Sales Manager)
Chateau la Nerthe,
For laying down,
One of the most successfully modern manifestations of the potential of this great village, Cuvée des Cadettes is not made every year, but in 2015 it was felt that the ripe and generous fruit would be well suited to new oak. And so it has proved. Architecturally robust, elegantly decorated, this is a powerhouse that will repay lengthy cellaring. Drink 2022-2030+.
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer
The grandest of all the properties in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the one closest to actually having a castle, La Nerthe is a virtually contiguous vineyard, with 90 hectares of calcareous and sandy soils located just to the east of the village. With each new vintage they enhance their reputation as one of the leading “classically modern” estates in the region.
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer
The grandest of all the properties in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the one closest to actually having a castle, La Nerthe is a virtually contiguous vineyard, with 90 hectares of calcareous and sandy soils located just to the east of the village. With each new vintage they enhance their reputation as one of the leading “classically modern” estates in the region.
Chateau la Nerthe,
For laying down,
This cuvée from Château La Nerthe is only made in the very best vintages, a testament to the quality of the fruit from 2016. Blended with grapes from their oldest vineyards, the make-up is Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre which is matured for 18 months in new oak barrels. The resulting wine is incredibly rich and textural. The big bold bramble fruit flavours and herbal notes intertwine with sweet spice on the palate and the whole thing is finished off by a lovely freshness. The tannins are grippy but perfectly ripe which indicates that this is a wine which will age well over the next few decades, should you be able to resist its immediate charms.
Oliver Barton, Wine Buyer
Oliver Barton, Wine Buyer
Chateau la Nerthe,
For laying down,
Ruby red liquid that initially surprised as I was expecting more power and weight, instead what I found was delicacy and perfume. Le Nerthe have a deft touch when it comes to managing time spent in oak and the heat of region. Red fruits predominate here showing Grenache’s influence with hints of black pepper, garrigue and wood smoke from Syrah and Mourvedre. This is stylish Chateauneuf and with such a tight frame, this could go on and on. I would enjoy this from 2025-2040.
Tatiana Humphreys, Private Account Manager
Tatiana Humphreys, Private Account Manager
Chateau la Nerthe,
For laying down,
Generous, purple fruit profile with blueberry, cherry and plum perfume. Concentrated core of brambles and garrigue. Well integrated powdery tannins and alcohol. Delicious and despite its youth is displaying attractive perfume to support the wine’s tightly wound structure.
Fiona Hayes, Berry Bros. & Rudd Rhone Buyer
Fiona Hayes, Berry Bros. & Rudd Rhone Buyer
Showing 1-11 out of 11 items
Château la Nerthe is one of the oldest producers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The château itself was built in the 18th century, but winery records stretch back as far as 1560.
The Richard family – which also manages various other estates in Beaujolais, Bordeaux and elsewhere in the Rhône – owns the estate. La Nerthe boasts 90 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, two-thirds of which surround the château, while the final third is located on the famous plateau of La Crau. All the vineyards are farmed organically.
The soils here are a mixture of sandy clay and marl, as well as the typical galets roulés. The property is fortunate to have a natural spring within its grounds, which is incredibly beneficial to the vines in this often drought-prone region.
Although the property has plantings of all 13 of the appellation’s permitted varietals, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah dominate the red blend. The estate has one of the highest proportions of white vines in the region and produces a special white cuvée – Clos de Beauvenir – from the clos directly in front of the château.
Since young and dynamic winemaker Ralph Garcin joined the estate in 2016, small yet significant changes have been made here. Ralph has introduced vinification by plot, investing in smaller fermentation tanks and larger ageing vessels to showcase the quality of the fruit in the cellar. He’s also been making improvements to their viticultural practices, such as introducing organic farming.