| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Rhône > Southern Rhône > Châteauneuf-du-Pape |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château La Nerthe
The 1998 Château la Nerthe Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée des Cadettes, which is the luxury cuvée from La Nerthe that is Mourvedre-based, but has multiple varietals – with Mourvedre followed by Grenache as the two dominant grapes. This wine is young, almost Bordeaux-like in its structure, density and finish, and still seems to have a good 10-20 years of life ahead of it.
A great example of this famous cuvee, which is almost always Mourvedre-dominated, the 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes is just hitting its adolescence. Dense bluish/purple with an extraordinary nose of blueberry, black raspberry, graphite, smoke, and mineral, this full-bodied, rich wine has resolved most of its tannins and thrown off any evidence of the new oak barrels it was aged in. With a finish that goes on for a good 45 seconds, this is a modern-styled, but brilliant example of Chateauneuf du Pape where the Mourvedre is the dominant grape in the blend. Perhaps the 2001 will achieve this level of quality, but the 1998 remains one of the finest Cuvee des Cadettes ever made. It should continue to drink well for another 20 years.
The 1998, which has put on considerable weight since I first tasted it, is a blend of 39% Grenache, 37% Mourvedre, and 24% Syrah. It possesses a dense purple color as well as a glorious bouquet of blackberry liqueur intermixed with aromas of white flowers, licorice, and hints of minerals and garrigue. Full-bodied, chewy, and thick, its enormous wealth of fruit and glycerin conceals substantial tannin. To my taste, this classic is the greatest Des Cadettes made to date (but watch out for the 2001!). Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025.
The top cuvee of the most majestic estate in Chateauneuf du Pape, Chateau de la Nerthe, the Cuvee des Cadettes is only made in the finest years. The ideal production desired by administrator Alain Dugas is 1,000-1,500 cases. The blend changes from year to year, but it generally includes a high percentage of Mourvedre.
The 1998 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée des Cadettes (to be released in 2001) was made from a blend of 39% Grenache, 37% Mourvèdre, and 24% Syrah. Full-bodied, powerful, and fat, with layers of concentration, this modern-styled CDP exhibits new oak, loads of glycerin, extract, and richness, and a complex nose of black fruits, minerals, toast, and spice. Bigger and weightier than the 1999, but less elegant, it should drink well for two decades.
Readers trying to find some of the estate's finest wine, the Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes, will be pleased to know that 1998 is the largest production ever (30,000 bottles). In 1998, the quality of the Mourvedre and the other varietals was superb, allowing for a more generous production of this classic. A blend of 39% Grenache, 37% Mourvedre, and 24% Syrah aged in 100% small barrels, this wine, which is vinified in open wood cuves, and given a Burgundian-like treatment of pigeage (the mashing of the fermentation cap manually to break up the skins and extract more flavor and color), is impressive. It will not be released until 2001, but it possesses a saturated dark ruby/purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of blackberries/cherries, minerals, vanillin, and spice. Tannic, full-bodied, and superbly-concentrated, with multiple flavor dimensions, this well-textured wine behaves like a skyscraper on the palate. The longer the wine sits in the mouth, the more nuances become apparent. It should have an uncommonly long life of 20-30 years.
