Château La Nerthe Cuvée des Cadettes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019

Full-bodied, this has weight and presence but isn’t overly fat or gloopy. Very firm but not austere in structure thanks to the pliant Mourvèdre tannic structure. Long and deep with a dry, savoury finish. This should age with interest. La Nerthe goes from strength to strength. The estate’s oldest parcels of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, all grown on galets roulés and sand, partially destemmed, all co-fermented in tronconic vats, then matured for a year in foudres. Drinking window: 2023-2038. Score – 97. (Matt Walls, decanter.com, Dec. 6, 2020)