Château La Nerthe : Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2023

Characteristics and tasting advice for the 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc from Château La Nerthe

Tasting

Color
The color reveals a pale golden hue with delicate green reflections.

Nose
The nose unveils complex aromas where notes of yellow lemon, fresh almond, honeysuckle, and jasmine mingle, creating a fresh and floral bouquet of great elegance.

Palate
On the palate, this wine seduces with its freshness and balance. There are touches of citrus such as citron, as well as notes of Williams pear. The finish is long, persistent, and slightly minty, adding an extra refreshing dimension.

Food and wine pairings

This Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc pairs perfectly with fine fish such as a sea bream ceviche accompanied by a virgin sauce, a scallop risotto, or a cod back à la provençale. Its freshness and complexity also make it an ideal companion for seafood and shellfish.

Service and aging

To fully appreciate this wine, serve it between 10 and 12°C. This wine can be tasted now to enjoy its freshness and fruitiness, but it can also improve until around 2030, developing more complex aromas and a fuller texture.

A Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc of great freshness from an exceptional terroir

The property

A true symbol of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Château La Nerthe is one of the oldest estates in the appellation. Indeed, their stories have been intertwined for five centuries, making Château La Nerthe a historical emblem of the region. Nestled in the heart of a green setting, in a sumptuous Provencal setting, the magnificent castle overlooks an exceptional architectural and viticultural heritage. With its cellars dating from the 16th century, its 92-hectare vineyard, its organic farming certification obtained in 1998, the estate embodies here the perfect balance between tradition and innovation. Since 1985, it is the Richard Family who imagines the wines of the estate and continues to fervently write the history of Château La Nerthe, a heritage magnified by the overflowing ambition of these demanding and innovative actors.

The vineyard

This Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2023 signed by Château La Nerthe is made from an exceptional terroir characterized by a great diversity of soils: clay-limestone, sandy-clay, and sandstone. This mosaic of terroirs gives the wine its complexity and aromatic richness. A remarkable feature of the estate is the presence of a natural spring in the appellation, bringing welcome freshness in this Mediterranean climate. The microclimate is marked by hot days and cool nights, promoting slow and optimal ripening of the grapes.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage was marked by a mild and very dry winter, followed by welcome rains in late spring that replenished the soil's water reserves. The summer proved to be hot and dry with moderate water stress, beneficial for the concentration of the berries. A heatwave in mid-August accelerated ripening, leading to early harvests for the roussanne, which continued serenely until the end of September in excellent conditions.

Vinification and aging

Manual harvest with rigorous sorting to select only the best berries. The whole bunches are then subjected to a slow and delicate pressing. The roussanne, representing 44% of the blend, is fermented in barrels, a third of which are new, while the other grape varieties are vinified in stainless steel tanks with precise temperature control to preserve their aromatic freshness. The final blend is made before bottling.

Grape varieties

44% roussanne, providing structure and aging potential, 41% white grenache for roundness and fatness, 11% clairette contributing to freshness, and 4% bourboulenc reinforcing the acid balance.