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
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Silver Medal — TEXSOM International Wine Awards 2020
Wine Details
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Producer: Château La Nerthe
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Vintage: 2016
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Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
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Region: Southern Rhône, France
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Blend: 37% Grenache Noir, 29% Syrah, 27% Mourvèdre and 7% Cinsault
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Viticulture: Certified organic
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Harvest: Hand-picked and table sorted
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Maceration: 18–21 days
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Maturation: 12 months in large wooden vats and barrels
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Alcohol: 15%
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Drinking Window: 2018–2032
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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.
