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La Nerthe
Château La Nerthe epitomises the living history of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. As one of the oldest and most prestigious wine estates in the region, named by Alexandre Dumas as the only Châteauneuf among the great red wines of France, it combines historical significance with modern viticulture. On 92 hectares, spread over four characteristic soil types, the estate cultivates all 13 authorised grape varieties of the appellation under the precise management of Rémi Jean. Since 1998, La Nerthe has been completely converted to organic cultivation and today produces four exceptional wines - two white and two red Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
More about La Nerthe
A history of aristocratic wine tradition
The history of Château La Nerthe is inextricably linked to the development of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. When the Tulle de Villefranche family from Avignon acquired the estate in 1560, they laid the foundations for a 300-year dynasty of winemaking excellence. The construction of the imposing château from 1736 marked the beginning of a golden era in which La Nerthe rose to become one of the most important wine estates in the southern Rhône. When first winery in the region to bottle wines from 1782 - a revolutionary step that emphasised its exceptional quality and carried its reputation as far as London, Moscow and the USA.
The phylloxera catastrophe at the end of the 19th century brought a turning point. Joseph Ducos, who took over the estate in 1877, proved to be a visionary saviour. His pioneering work with American rootstocks and the planting of 10 of today's 13 authorised grape varieties inspired his neighbour Baron Le Roy de Boiseaumarié to create the first AOC in France. Since 1985, the Richard family of wine merchants has been taking the legacy to new heights with substantial investments.
Terroir of exceptional diversity
The 92 hectares of vineyards of La Nerthe are spread over two distinctive main sites. 60 hectares surround the château itself, while a further 32 hectares are located on the prestigious Plateau de La Crau lie. This natural diversity in 57 different plots reflects the entire terroir spectrum of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Sandy, marl and clay-limestone soils dominate around the château, dotted with the characteristic Galets roulés. On the wind-exposed plateau of La Crau, a dense layer of clay under the rolling pebbles creates ideal conditions for Grenache, while Mourvèdre develops its elegant tannin structure in the more humid southern sites.
The historic Clos de Beauvenir and Les Cadettes vineyards below the château are particularly noteworthy. The chalky Clos is home to predominantly white grape varieties, above all Roussanne and Grenache Blanc - that one Clos de Beauvenir Blanc 2022 shows this origin with mineral precision. Les Cadettes, on the other hand, is home to the estate's oldest vines, including Grenache Noir from the year 1935.
Organic viticulture and minimal intervention
Château La Nerthe is one of the pioneers of the organic viticulture Under the direction of Rémi Jean, the company pursues an uncompromising approach to quality without artificial fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides. The grapes are harvested by hand according to optimum ripeness, separated by parcel in order to preserve the characteristics of each micro-terroir.
Vinification follows traditional principles with modern expertise. As a historical pioneer of destemming, La Nerthe has been practising this technique since the 1800s. The Spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts is initiated by gentle cold maceration. Extraction during fermentation is controlled by gentle pumping over or pigeage, always with the aim of achieving maximum aromatic complexity with an elegant tannin structure. The twelve-month maturation in various vessels - from barriques to stone tanks - continues to be separated by parcel before Rémi Jean composes the final blend. Also Clos des Papes, the other large organic winery in the appellation, relies on this patient approach.
The winery and its wines
La Nerthe's portfolio is centred on four exceptional Châteauneuf-du-Pape: two white and two red. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2023 reflects the entirety of the appellation, with a characteristic interpretation that emphasises fruit, roundness and balance. The Cuvée des Cadettes Rouge 2017 from the oldest vines stands out from the mass of powerful Châteauneuf wines due to its exceptional finesse and complexity.
All four wines embody Mediterranean Grand Crus of the highest calibre, combining southern warmth with profound terroir character. After ten or more years in the bottle, they achieve additional dimensions of complexity and sophistication. The special bottle with coat of arms, introduced in 2001, emphasises the unique character of this historic wine icon.
