Wine Reviews

A fruity, playful and mellow red made of 60% grenache, 32% syrah, 7% mourvedre and 1% others. Pretty nose with small berries, cherries, Mediterranean herbs, rosemary, dried thyme and a touch of peppercorns. Supple and mellow, with a velvety texture, beautiful fruit and a delicious finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.

Whiffs of sandalwood and char introduce this full-bodied, fleshy Côtes-du-Rhône Villages produced by owners of Château La Nerthe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. While black plum and blueberry flavors are ample on the palate, reflective of the vintage, it’s a touch demure in concentration compared to previous years. A juicy, forward wine to drink young.

Warm raspberry ganache, anise and alder notes all mix in this juicy, full-bodied version. Plum cake and singed cedar hints chime in on the finish.

This above average blend of 60% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre offers dimension, weight, and a silky mouthfeel, sending along scents of coffee and tobacco that also translate on the palate. Raspberry preserves and dark chocolate are buttoned up in a fine coat with good acid structure. Lavender lifts on the finish.

This wine continues to be domaine-bottled, although a cursory look at the label reveals just 2019 La Nerthe Cotes du Rhone Villages Les Cassagnes. It’s a separate estate under the same ownership as Château La Nerthe. Dark and intensely colored, it comes across as welcomely airy and lacy in texture, while still showing ample concentration. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from limestone and sand soils, it delivers notes of ripe cherries and mulberries, plus hints of roses, garrigue, orange zest and dried spices. It’s uncommonly elegant for a villages wine, with a long, silky finish.