October 19th – Château La Nerthe, one of the oldest estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape dating back to at least 1560, has released their new label Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe Blanc. A wine of the Côtes-du-Rhône appellation, this new white blend uses Grenache Blanc (30%), Viognier (30%), Roussanne (30%), and Marsanne (10%). Neither Viognier nor Marsanne are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, making this blend unique for Château La Nerthe.
Of Château La Nerthe’s 227 acres of vineyards surrounding its château, the grapes for Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe Blanc are planted on the highest terraces in the Domaine de la Ranjarde vineyard in the Côtes du Rhône appellation, where average vine age is over 25 years old. Here, the land is surrounded by green oak trees, which has given rise to the red and white Les Cassagnes labels: cassagnes means “planted with oak trees” in local dialect.
Château La Nerthe Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe Blanc (SRP: $23.99) is elegant and fruit driven. Viognier adds finesse and rich aromas of honeysuckle, apricot, and mango. Marsanne is often blended with Roussanne, and together they deliver aromas of yellow and white fruits and flowers. Aged on the lees for almost six months with regular stirring, the wine is well-balanced and elegant. Like the rest of the estate (since 1998), Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe Blanc is certified AB Organic. Enjoy now or within three years.
About Château La Nerthe
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. All terroirs of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are in a single estate and planted with all 13 official grape varieties. The estate’s exceptional sloped terroir has soils of sandy clay topped by a layer of ‘galets’ – large, round, well-worn stones that were carried down from the Alps by glaciers during the last ice age. The wines of Château La Nerthe are an expression of the diverse terroir of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, vinified with elegance and finesse. In 1998, the vineyard was certified AB Organic. Rémi Jean joined the Chateau la Nerthe team in late 2019 and has been placed in charge of the estate and its winemaking.
