Château La Nerthe

Until 1st April this product is discounted by 30 percent. Price shown includes saving.*
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.





*Discount is already applied to the single-bottle price and no further discount will be applied at checkout.

One of the great wines of the appellation, the Cuvée des Cadettes is a 1,000-case blend of 37% Syrah, 32% Grenache and 31% Mourvèdre cropped at a very modest yield and aged in a significant percentage of new oak barrels. Evocative, complex aromas give way to a palate of great power and length.

Most Exciting Wines of the Vintage:Châteauneauf-du-Pape Rouge Ch. la Nerthe
The 2009 La Nerthe shares the same character, depth of personality and richness that made the 2007 vintage such a success. It is made with a blend of 50% Grenache and 25% each of Syrah and early ripening Mourvèdre. Beautiful aromas of mulberry fruit, smoke and Provençal herbs are followed by a rich, meaty palate with Asian spices balanced by a backbone of fine, silky tannins.
Fine Wine Team

Just a hint of oak on the nose does nothing to mask the spicy, brambly fruit underneath. Delightfully linear on the palate, with dark, Syrah dominated (for now) fruit giving a joyous impression. The spicy Grenache fruit comes through at the end, promising more for the future, along with the fine, palate-coating tannins and crisp acidity.
Chris Pollington, Fine Wine Account Manager

La Nerthe Rouge has a lot of the character and depth of personality in 2009 that made the 2007 such a huge success. It is smoky, rich and meaty with mulberry fruit supported by Provençal herbs and Asian spices. The signature caress of finely-grained tannins is clearly evidenced.
Simon Field MW Wine Buyer

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

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...

The facts behind this great wine are as follows; 42% Grenache, 39% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre and 4% Cinsault; 51% barrel-aged and 49% aged in cask. Cropped at 20 hl//ha and to be bottled April 2012. Behind the detail, the facts speak for themselves; a superb effort! Mint, plums, lavender and black tea are all noted in deference to real complexity. The best vintage for 35 years according to M Voeux, who should have a reasonable idea, as he has been making wine here for at least twenty-five of them!
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...

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)

Coming from 80-year-old vines, in three of the oldest plots owned by the domaine, this cuvee consists of Grenache (50%), Syrah (30%) and Mourvèdre (20%). Cherry liqueur, redcurrants and juicy red plum notes are supported by savoury, meaty notes, giving the wine a dense core, as well as breadth on the palate. The chalky tannins give a layer of complexity as well as balance and the finish continues for some time. Drink 2021-2035.
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer

Grenache Blanc makes up 40% of the blend this year, compared to only 24% in 2016, giving the wine an attractive liquorice and dill note. Roussanne (38%), Clairette Blanc (18%) and Bourboulenc make up the balance. La Nerthe’s practice of blocking malolactic on the whites often gives them a lift of acidity, although this was less of an issue in 2018 with its cooler weather. The resulting wine is very saline on the attack, with pineapple and white peach aromas. Drink now to 2025.

Syrah takes the leading role this year, accounting for 36% of the assemblage, with a third each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, and Cinsault completing the blend. Ralph’s strong connection to Syrah from his Jaboulet tenure has meant that this is one of the stronger wines of the vintage with real complexity and energy. A graphite core is combined with purple fruit and liquorice spice, while the generosity of the vintage comes through with a juicy breadth on the midpalate. Drink 2020-2032.
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer

Made up entirely of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc this year, volumes are limited for this cuvee which is only produced in certain vintages. The wine is richer and denser in profile compared to the straight Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, largely due to being aged exclusively in oak (50% new) and on its lees. An exotic aromatic profile of apricot and tangerine is combined with a creamy texture, providing weight and power, but the phenolic grip on the finish provides definition and focus. Drink now to 2026.
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer

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