This wine originates from Domaine Renjarde's vineyards in Serignan-du-Comtat, north of Orange and Avignon and Massif d'Uchaux. These vineyards are managed by the Chateau la Nerthe team with the same passion and experience for which the esteemed Chateauneuf-du-Pape estate is recognized. The 40+ year old vineyards contain all the traditional grape varietals of the Southern Rhône Valley: Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.

The vines are planted in different types of soil with calcareous sandstones and very little clay. Some of them are planted directly in the bedrock. These vineyards are located at altitudes up to 600 feet above sea level. The gently undulating slopes produce high quality grapes that turn into fleshy and balanced wines.

The grapes are manually harvested immediately when they hit maturity. They're then sorted on tables and lightly crushed in tanks. Smooth extraction of color and tannins results from several daily pump overs. Co-fermentation of the 3 varietals occurs in vats for a long maceration, about 4 weeks. Final blend is aged in concrete tanks for 9 months until bottling. The switch to concrete tanks was made starting with the 2017 vintage as it retains the fresh fruit expression of the wine, especially in warmer vintages.

91 Points
Wine Advocate
2019 vintage
93 Points
Tasting Panel
2019 vintage
Harvest Note
The 2019 vintage will be remembered for the excessively hot and dry summer which started with a heat wave at the end of June that had temperatures approaching 106°F. Throughout the summer the temperatures stayed above 90°F. This harvest was historic with grapes being picked over a 3 month span: August 30th to October 1st. The harvest occurred as early as 4 am to avoid the afternoon heat. This was a low yield vintage due to a large coulure on Grenache (1,304 g/a) compared to the 2,087 g/a on Syrah grapes. The result is a vibrant red wine which can be seen as a benchmark of the 2019 vintage.
Tasting Note
Power, structure and color are the signatures of this vintage. In appearance, a very deep purple with violet hints. On the nose, it's very expressive with notes of small red and black berries along with floral and spice notes. On the palate it's very round, dominated by the Syrah's spicy notes. Thanks to the tannins it shows excellent maturity and very good length with full ripeness. Additionally it's well balanced with significant aging potential.
Food Pairing
Enjoy with vegetable dishes, grilled red meats and pasta bolognese.
Technical Data
GRAPES: 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 5% other indigenous varieties
APPELLATION: Côtes du Rhône AOC
PH: 3.72
ACIDITY: 4.64
ABV: 15%
AGING: Aged on fine lees in concrete tanks for 9 months before bottling
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 2.4 g/L
Unique Selling Points
  • Average vine age – 40+ years
  • Hand picked at perfect maturity
  • Different types of soil with calcareous rocks provide high quality natural filtration
  • Extraction done softly to bring out the brightness of the fruit and tannic qualities

About the Grape

Grenache
Grenache is loaded with dense, lusty aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackcurrant, jam, pepper and licorice, with a palate-coating texture and high alcohol.
Mourvèdre
Mourvèdre makes big, meaty, rustic wines high in alcohol, acidity and tannin, with moderate black fruit characters. Shows aromas and flavors of wild Provençal herbs, leather, mushrooms and barnyard.
Syrah
Syrah has seductively dense, rich, chewy black berry aromas and flavors, with notes of tar, wood smoke, bacon, leather, chocolate, and sometimes violets. The tannins are firm yet elegant.
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