Chateau La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee des Cadettes 2005

"The Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes was one of the first luxury cuvees of old vines made in Chateauneuf du Pape, the first vintage originating in 1972. There are usually anywhere from 500 to 1000 cases of it. A real stunner, and just being released on the market, is the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes. A magnificent wine with deep ruby/purple color, a wonderfully sweet focus, aromatics of blue and black fruits intermixed with graphite, a hint of charcoal, and some earth and subtle Provencal herbs, the wine is full-bodied and has great depth, richness, power, and stature. There is plenty of tannin to shed, as one might expect from a top 2005, but it is well-integrated, and there is more than enough concentration and fruit to balance out the wine’s structural profile. Give this wine 5 years of bottle age and drink it over the following three decades. This is a monumental example of Chateauneuf du Pape. "

96 Points

The Wine Advocate

"This delivers attention-grabbing mocha and cocoa aromas and offers a lush palate of juicy plum sauce, raspberry and boysenberry fruit, with licorice snap and graphite. The long, driven finish is really fine-grained, and this gains steam as it moves along. Drink now through 2025."

95 Points

Wine Spectator

"Inky ruby. Exotic, opulent aromas of dark berry and cherry preserves, licorice, incense and potpourri. Extremely rich but at the same time lithe and precise, offering sweet, deep raspberry, blueberry and candied floral flavors, plus strong mineral lift. Tannins gain strength on the finish, which leaves behind a wide swath of sweet dark fruits."

94 Points

International Wine Cellar

"From a single vineyard originally planted in 1893, La Nerthe's Cuvée des Cadettes is always matured in new barriques. In 2005, the result is a toasty, almond-scented accent to deep plum and black cherry fruit. It's deceptively sweet and supple upfront, then gains tannic intensity on the finish. Drink 2012–2020."

92 Points

Wine Enthusiast