2016 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 750ml

Overview

Château La Nerthe is one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s most historic estates, with a winemaking heritage extending back to the 12th century. Its 92 hectares of vineyards have been certified organic since 1998, while its ancient rock-cut cellars date to 1560.

The excellent 2016 vintage is a blend of 37% Grenache Noir, 29% Syrah, 27% Mourvèdre and 7% Cinsault. Rich, concentrated and beautifully structured, it combines dark fruit with savoury complexity, refined tannins and substantial cellaring potential.

Vintage

The vineyard benefited from a mild, frost-free winter, with sufficient rainfall to replenish the estate’s water reserves. A very warm summer maintained excellent vine health and produced an exceptional vintage recognised as one of the finest at Château La Nerthe since the legendary 1990 season.

Producer Tasting Notes

The wine displays a dark, deep and inky colour that immediately reflects the concentration of the vintage.

The bouquet reveals blackcurrant, black tea and distinctly expressive dried-flower aromas. The palate is rich, fruity and velvety, supported by a complex, layered tannin structure. Balanced, pure, intensely flavoured and long, it possesses excellent potential for further development in bottle.

Vineyards and Terroir

The estate’s vineyards encompass several characteristic Châteauneuf-du-Pape soil types, including clay-limestone, sandy clay and sandstone scattered with the appellation’s famous rounded river stones.

All grapes were harvested by hand and carefully sorted at the winery before vinification.

Winemaking

The fruit underwent a long maceration of approximately 18 to 21 days, with regular pump-overs and punch-downs to build colour, flavour and structure.

Vinification and malolactic fermentation took place in wooden and stainless-steel vats. The wine was matured for 12 months in large wooden vats and barrels before the final blend was assembled. Bottling took place approximately six months later.

Critic Reviews

94 Points — Hudin.com

Tasted April 2019

93 Points — Wine Spectator

Tasted October 2019

93 Points — Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Smoke, incense, herbs and red fruits are in the nose. On the palate, the wine offers round, sweet, ripe, smoky, dark red berries, finishing with a real sense of plushness. The wine is concentrated and polished.

Tasted September 2018

92 Points — Wine Enthusiast

Blackberry and black-cherry flavors are opulent in this rich, ample-bodied wine. It's intensely fleshy in fruit character but muted by hints of earth and savory spice as well as a whisper of violet. Ripe, finely woven tannins accentuate the immediate appeal but should structure the wine well through 2028.

Tasted December 2019

James Suckling

Up-to-date, classical style with alluring red florals, red berries and light, herbal accents. The palate rolls out plush, plump, dark berries in a silky, smooth chassis. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Tasted July 2018

16.5/20 — La Revue du Vin de France

16/20 — Vinum Wine Magazine

Tasted March 2019

Awards

• Silver Medal — TEXSOM International Wine Awards 2020

Wine Details

• Producer: Château La Nerthe
• Vintage: 2016
• Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Region: Southern Rhône, France
• Blend: 37% Grenache Noir, 29% Syrah, 27% Mourvèdre and 7% Cinsault
• Viticulture: Certified organic
• Harvest: Hand-picked and table sorted
• Maceration: 18–21 days
• Maturation: 12 months in large wooden vats and barrels
• Alcohol: 15%
• Drinking Window: 2018–2032
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Food Pairing

Pair with beef fillet in a rich red-wine sauce, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, duck confit, venison, Provençal stews or mature cheeses.

About Château La Nerthe

Château La Nerthe has produced wine since the 12th century and is one of the defining estates of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The Richard family acquired and restored the property in 1985, developing a refined house style recognised for its balance, supple structure and modern precision.

The château’s vineyards contain all 13 permitted red grape varieties, while the historic cellars carved into the rock beneath the estate preserve more than five centuries of winemaking heritage.