Cuvée des Cadettes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020
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France / Rhône
Château La Nerthe is one of the oldest estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and extends over 220 acres around the castle. Cuvée des Cadettes is a selection made from the oldest plots with vines aged 80 to 100 years old planted in sandy clay soil. The grapes are party destemmed and co-fermented in a wooden tronconic vat with wild yeast native to the vineyard. Pumping overs and punching downs are done during fermentation to ensure the best extraction of the berry compounds. Maceration lasts 4 weeks and the wine is racked into concrete tanks for malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged for 12 months partly in large wooden casks or foudres (50%) and partly in oak barrels (25% of which are new).
Harvest Note
The 2020 vintage had good weather overall. Low rainfall through the year was enough for the soil to build a water reserve and allow the vines to cope with the summer heat wave. Rains at the end of August and end of September slowed the maturity of the grapes. Harvest began in late August. The grapes were generous with a higher quantity than the previous vintage.
Tasting Note
Dark red in color, this elegant and sophisticated wine offers notes of black cherry, blueberry, kirsch, and pepper. The finish is long and the wine shows great aging potential.
Technical Data
GRAPES: Mourvèdre (48%), Syrah (32%), Grenache (20%)
APPELLATION: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
PH: 3.77
ACIDITY: 4.36
ABV: 15%
AGING: 12 months in foudres - old French oak casks - and French oak barrels (25% new)
Unique Selling Points
- Only produced in the best vintages
- Made from the oldest plots with vines aged 85-100 years old
- Hand harvested and hand sorted - estate grown and bottled
- Cellar up to 30 years
- Vineyards are certified AB Organic
One of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s oldest estates, archives affirm Château La Nerthe’s existence as early as 1560 and suggest an even more distant past dating to the dawn of the region’s wine culture in the 12th century.
Rémi Jean, Managing Director & Winemaker
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.
