Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Cuvée des Cadettes” Rouge AOC 2017

Wine profile
The award-winning vineyard, nestled below the magnificent château, is characterised by its sandy loam soils. From these, the impressive red Les Cadettes Cuveés are produced. The oldest vines of La Nerthe are also found here, especially Grenache Noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre, which have a proud 85 years under their belt. After the carefully manual harvest and grape selection, all varieties end up in a huge wooden vat for communal fermentation. The 2017 vintage consisted of 59% Grenache Noir, 31% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. A three-week maceration and malolactic fermentation were followed by twelve months of ageing - partly in barrels, partly in new barriques.

Colour intensity
This wine captivates with its deep dark, youthfully refreshing ruby hue.

Fragrance
When poured, one experiences a powerful, captivating bouquet. One perceives ripe berries, red cherries, candied wild strawberries, maraschino cherries and raspberries in brandy whose aromas have been enhanced by the heat and dryness of the year. Delicate milk chocolate and caramel, together with traces of cloves, cinnamon, smoke and tobacco, complete the olfactory experience.

Taste
The mouth-filling aroma convinces with a gentle velvet character and an expressiveness of ripe red berries. Its remarkable intensity, structure and power are coupled with laurel and pipe tobacco, built into distinctive but gently wrapped tannins and complex spice notes. Thanks to the simultaneous vinification of the three varieties and ageing in barrels, the wine offers impressive harmony and finesse despite its outstanding concentration. It has all the necessary elements to continue ageing for decades without any problems.

Culinary companions
This wine pairs beautifully with a hearty wild boar stew, a slow-cooked roast lamb or stuffed grilled peppers with goat cheese. Alternative food suggestions could be a hearty steak with pepper cream sauce, duck confit or a cassoulet with white beans.