Chateau La Nerthe Les Cassagnes Cotes du Rhone Villages 2019
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Blend: 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 5% other indigenous varieties
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
This above average blend of 60% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre offers dimension, weight, and a silky mouthfeel, sending along scents of coffee and tobacco that also translate on the palate. Raspberry preserves and dark chocolate are buttoned up in a fine coat with good acid structure. Lavender lifts on the finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This wine continues to be domaine-bottled, although a cursory look at the label reveals just 2019 La Nerthe Cotes du Rhone Villages Les Cassagnes. It's a separate estate under the same ownership as Château La Nerthe. Dark and intensely colored, it comes across as welcomely airy and lacy in texture, while still showing ample concentration. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from limestone and sand soils, it delivers notes of ripe cherries and mulberries, plus hints of roses, garrigue, orange zest and dried spices. It's uncommonly elegant for a villages wine, with a long, silky finish.
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Wine Spectator
Warm raspberry ganache, anise and alder notes all mix in this juicy, full-bodied version. Plum cake and singed cedar hints chime in on the finish.
Other Vintages
2021-
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James
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James -
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James
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James
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Wong
Wilfred
Archives affirm Chateau La Nerthe’s existence as early as 1560, while suggesting an even more distant past dating to the dawn of the region’s wine culture in the 12th century making it one of Chateauneuf’s oldest estates. Located in the heart of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC region of southern France not far from Avignon, the 225 acres of Chateau La Nerthe vineyards are located in a single block around the Chateau and have been certified Organic since 1998. The terroir is very typical for the region: vineyards runs along a slope, at the top of which the vines dig their roots into soils of sandy-clay, on the surface there is a layer of the famous galettes, large, round, well-worn stones that originated in the Alps, having been carried down to the Rhône by the glaciers of previous ice ages. The further down the slope of the vineyard you travel, the more these stones dominate. All 14 of the permitted primary varietals are planted-Grenache dominates 62% of vineyards and the vines average over 40 years old. Chateau La Nerthe is the prime expression of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
An appellation full of some of the most delightful and particularly charming reds, Côtes du Rhône Villages includes the best villages of the greater Côtes du Rhône appellation. The possibility for an appellation promotion exists for every named village but each has to achieve and prove superior quality before an upgrade will be granted. The main ones today are Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes-de-Venise, Vinsobres, Rasteau and Cairanne.
The Gigondas appellation, while sometimes producing wines with a touch of rusticity, can often rival Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Its elevations are higher and soils richer in limestone. Vacqueyras reds are more concentrated than the more general Côtes du Rhône reds and must be at least one half comprised of Grenache by law. Beaumes de Venise also includes some excellent higher elevation spots for making snappy, fruity and spicy reds but historically the appellation’s esteem came from its fragrant, sweet and golden Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise.