2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Château La Nerthe, Rhône

2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Château La Nerthe, Rhône

Product: 20108028961
 
2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Château La Nerthe, Rhône

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Description

One of the long-standing signature whites of the village la Nerthe Blanc does not disappoint in 2010. Made up of 50% Roussanne and then mostly Grenache Blanc with a whisper of Clairette, the wine has a seductive nose of quince, almond and citrus oil and a finely balanced palate which juxtaposes notes of beeswax with pear and spice honey.
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...

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Critics reviews

Wine Advocate92/100
The 2010 La Nerthe Chateauneuf du Pape blanc is sensational, one of the best regular cuvees of this white I have tasted, with hints of honey interwoven with orange marmalade, rose petals, lychee, sweet citrus and spice. Full-bodied, with good minerality, terrific acidity, and a penetrating, full-throttle mouthfeel, this is a big, luscious white to drink over the next 5-7 years.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 31/10/2012 Read more
Jancis Robinson MW17.5/20
Very deep purplish crimson. Fresh, terroir driven, pine scented. Aromatic, lively. Very confident, with great balance.
(Jancis Robinson & Julia Harding MW - www.jancisrobinson.com - 20 Dec 2011) Read more
Robert Parker90/100
The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is a 1,500-case blend of 50% Roussanne and the rest Grenache Blanc with a tiny dollop of Clairette, one-third of which is fermented in barrel. The bottled 2010 reveals notes of orange rind, citrus oil, honeysuckle, white currants and quince.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Oct 2011) Read more

About this WINE

Chateau la Nerthe

Chateau la Nerthe

Château la Nerthe is a stunning, 500-year-old property becoming ‘one to watch’ in recent years. Working organically since 1998, its 57 parcels on various soils and expositions produce a seamless, complex Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The care taken in both vineyard and cellar has resulted in seriously impressive wines. This property is, absolutely, a worthy rival to the likes of Château de Beaucastel. Winemaker Rémi Jean is as inspiring as the terroir – his understanding of the multiple plots and attention to detail is impressive.

Château la Nerthe’s remarkable terroir produces beautiful wines, year-in, year-out. Rocky, clay and sandy soils combined with natural springs imbue the wines with wonderful freshness and minerality. Rémi says Grenache gives his red blends “magic”, Mourvèdre brings complexity and Syrah provides structure. The very special top white cuvée, Clos de Beauvenir, comes from a single, walled plot: an old castle garden in front of the historic château.

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Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The most celebrated village of the Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the birthplace of the now indispensable French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée system – imperfect though it may be. Compared to the Northern Rhône, the vineyards here are relatively flat and often feature the iconic galet pebbles – the precise benefits of which are a source of much debate. Minimum alcohol levels required by the AOC are the highest in France, but at 12.5% it is well below the natural generosity of Grenache, which only achieves its full aromatic potential when it is fully ripe and laden with the resultant high sugars. Syrah and Mourvèdre contribute the other defining elements in the blend, adding pepper, savoury spice and structure to the decadent Grenache. There are a further 10 permitted red grape varieties which can be used to adjust the “seasoning”. Of the five white varieties permitted, it is Grenache Noir’s sibling – predictably perhaps – Grenache Blanc, which dominates, though Roussanne shows a great deal of promise when handled well, notably at Château de Beaucastel.

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White Rhône Blend

White Rhône Blend

With the exception of the wines from Condrieu and Château-Grillet virtually all Rhône Valley whites are made from blends.

In the north, the white wines of Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, St-Joseph, and St-Péray are produced from blends of Marsanne and Roussanne. Generally Marsanne is the dominant partner and it lends colour, body and weight to the blend, as well as richly scented fruit. Roussanne, a notoriously low yielder and pernickety to grow, produces intensely aromatic wines which contribute bouquet, delicacy and finesse to the blend.

Until about 15 years ago there was very little interest in southern Rhône whites as it was widely believed that the combination of dull non aromatic grapes and the baking summer heat meant quality wine production was nigh impossible. Since then the quality has improved markedly through the introduction of cool fermentation techniques and increased plantings of northern Rhône white grapes.

The base of many blends is still Grenache Blanc, a widely planted variety producing fresh wines with apple-like fruits, often with hints of aniseed. Ugni Blanc is still found in many blends, as is Clairette though their general lack of character and definition has led to a reduction in plantings. The future for southern Rhône whites appears to lie with Roussanne, Marsanne, and, increasingly, Viognier.

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