2005 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Cadettes
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Coming from a selection of the top parcels of the estate, and a blend of 43% Grenache, 36% Syrah and 21% Mourvèdre, the 2005 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes was aged all in smaller barrels prior to bottling. Like the classic cuvee, it’s still youthful and lively, with gorgeous blackberry, cassis, toasted spice, vanilla and charcuterie-like qualities all emerging from the glass. Full-bodied, concentrated and still structured, with the firm tannic spine that’s common in the vintage, it’s nevertheless beautiful today given it’s wealth of fruit and texture. This is a classic, age-worthy Châteauneuf that will have 25+ years of overall longevity when all is said and done.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
43% Grenache, 36% Syrah, 21% Mourvèdre. In small and large barrels for 12 months. 18,000 bottles produced. pH 3.65 , RS 1.7 g/l. Harvested 29 August to 2 September. Very deep blackish garnet. Some freshness and lots of voluptuous, even if not that concentrated, fruit. Mouthfilling and lots of fun. Tannins fully evolved. (JR)
Even more impressive than a bottle a year ago, the blockbuster 2005 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Cadettes is packed with cassis and black cherry fruit that’s intermixed with smoke, loads of spice, and dried meat notes. Smelling like the essence of a Provençal Market, this is incredibly complex as well as focused and pure. Medium to full bodied on the palate, the wine is more structured and straight on the palate than the ’06, showing a more compact, firm texture (compared to the ’06 that expands in the mouth and shows more fat) as well as a touch more focus and delineation. Better? I think so, but not by much, and the ’06 will probably drink well at an earlier age. If you’re lucky enough to have some of these, give bottles a good 6 to 8 years and then drink over the following 25 years. Wow.