Chateau La Nerthe 2003 La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Des Cadettes

Red wine – 2003 – La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Des Cadettes – France – Region: Rhone

2003 La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Des Cadettes

Tasting Note:

The luxury cuvee the Cuvee des Cadettes is the only Chateauneuf du Pape completely aged in 100% new oak a la many Bordeaux and Burgundies. The 2003 is an outstanding wine but somewhat of a letdown after what I tasted from cask. A 1,000+-case blend of 47% Grenache 36% Syrah and the rest Mourvedre the wine has a deep purple color a sweet nose of graphite toasty new oak cassis and black fruits. In the mouth it is medium to full-bodied revealing more rugged tannin than it did last year as well as aggressive new oak. Nevertheless there is impressive concentration but the 2003 is not up to the level of the brilliant 2001 or 1998 the two finest Cuvees des Cadettes I have tasted. In short it seems to have tightened up and taken on a far more tannic personality than it had last year. Anticipated maturity: now-2014. Source: Wine Advocate

Rating: 91 RP Reviewed by Robert Parker Date: February 2006