Château La Nerthe embodies the living history of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. As one of the oldest and most prestigious estates in the region, cited by Alexandre Dumas as the only Châteauneuf among the great red wines of France, it combines historical significance with modern viticulture. Across 92 hectares spread over four distinctive soil types, the estate cultivates all 13 grape varieties permitted in the appellation under the precise direction of Rémi Jean. Fully converted to organic farming in 1998, La Nerthe today produces four exceptional wines – two white and two red Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
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In all wines: 631 Wines
More about La Nerthe
A history of noble winemaking 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 viticultural excellence. The construction of the imposing château from 1736 onwards marked the beginning of a golden era, during which La Nerthe rose to become one of the most significant estates in the southern Rhône. As the first estate in the region to bottle its wines from 1782 onwards, it took a revolutionary step that underscored its exceptional quality and carried its reputation as far as London, Moscow and the USA.
The phylloxera crisis 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 the 13 grape varieties permitted today inspired his neighbour, Baron Le Roy de Boiseaumarié, to create France’s first AOC. Since 1985, the Richard family of wine merchants has been carrying this legacy to new heights through substantial investment.
A terroir of exceptional diversity
La Nerthe’s 92 hectares of vines are spread across two distinctive main vineyard sites. Sixty hectares surround the château itself, while a further 32 hectares lie on the prestigious Plateau de La Crau. This natural diversity across 57 different parcels reflects the entire terroir spectrum of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Around the château, sandy, marl and clay-limestone soils dominate, strewn with the characteristic galets roulés. On the wind-exposed Plateau de La Crau, a dense layer of clay beneath the rolled pebbles creates ideal conditions for Grenache, while Mourvèdre develops its elegant tannin structure in the moister southern plots.
Particularly remarkable are the historic Clos de Beauvenir and Les Cadettes vineyards below the château. The limestone-rich Clos is home predominantly to white grape varieties, above all Roussanne and Grenache Blanc – the Clos de Beauvenir Blanc 2022 expresses this origin with mineral precision. Les Cadettes, meanwhile, is home to the estate’s oldest vines, including Grenache Noir dating back to 1935.
Organic viticulture and minimal intervention
Château La Nerthe is one of the pioneers of organic viticulture in the region, having begun its conversion as early as 1998. Under the direction of Rémi Jean, the estate pursues an uncompromising approach to quality, without synthetic fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides. Hand harvesting takes place precisely at optimal ripeness, parcel by parcel, in order to preserve the characteristics of each micro-terroir.
Vinification follows traditional principles combined with modern expertise. As a historical pioneer of destemming, La Nerthe has practised this technique since the 1800s. Spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts is initiated by a gentle cold maceration. Extraction during fermentation is controlled by careful pumping over or pigeage, always with the aim of achieving maximum aromatic complexity alongside an elegant tannin structure. The twelve-month ageing in various vessels – from barriques to stone vats – continues to take place parcel by parcel before Rémi Jean composes the final blend. Clos des Papes, the appellation’s other great organic estate, also relies on this patient approach.
The estate and its wines
La Nerthe’s portfolio focuses on four exceptional Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines: two whites and two reds. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2023 reflects the appellation in its entirety, offering a characteristic interpretation that places fruit, roundness and balance at the forefront. The Cuvée des Cadettes Rouge 2017, made from the oldest vines, stands out from the crowd of powerful Châteauneuf wines thanks to its exceptional finesse and complexity.
All four wines embody Mediterranean Grands Crus of the highest calibre, combining southern warmth with profound terroir expression. After ten or more years of bottle ageing, they gain additional dimensions of complexity and refinement. The estate’s own embossed bottle bearing its coat of arms, introduced in 2001, underscores the independent character of this historic wine icon.
