2019 Côtes du Rhône Villages, Les Cassagnes, La Nerthe
About Producer
Château La Nerthe dates back to 1560 when the Tulle de Villefranche, a Piedmontese family settled in Avignon since the 14th century, bought some land, vines, a barn and a bastide in the southeastern area of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In the 18th century, La Nerthe was among the first estates in the region to ship wines in bottles, with exports to Europe and the US. Post-phylloxera, Joseph Ducos, who acquired La Nerthe in 1870, worked with the Montpellier School of Agriculture to select resistant rootstocks and painstakingly replanted vines with new grape varieties to restore the vineyards to its former extent. Since 1985, the estate is owned by the Richard family who has converted the property into organic viticulture in 1998 and, through massive renovation works and detailed vineyard management, has resurrected La Nerthe’s former glory.
Varietals
Blend of 50% syrah, 30% grenache, 15% mourvèdre, 5% other indigenous varieties.
About Appellation
The vineyard is located in the village of Sérignan-du-Comtat, 18km north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, on limestone, clay and sandy soil planted with 40 year-old vines.
Tasting Notes
Perfumed nose of red and black berries, orange peel, baking spices and hints of dried flowers scents, round mouthfeel with ample concentration and dense yet supple texture, expressive flavours of ripe cherries, dark fruits, gingerbread, garrigue herbs and peppery notes, integrated tannins leading onto a long, velvety finish. This is a cracking wine walking a finely balanced line between mouth-filling fruit ripeness and lively acidity. Don’t be misled by its humble appellation, although it’s the entry level of Château La Nerthe, this cuvée has an exquisite elegance not frequently found in a Côtes du Rhône Villages. An utterly enjoyable wine at brilliant value indeed. (10/2021)