Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A harmonious and very aromatic white with aromas of cooked lemons, stones, white flowers, peaches, white pepper and dried leaves. Medium- to- full-bodied with an oily texture on the palate. Lots of fruits harmoniously mingling with the creamy texture. Some white pepper as well towards the flavorful and long finish. Drink or hold.
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Decanter
Buttered popcorn and tobacco leaf on the nose, this is shot through with expensive oak. Powerful on the palate, extremely loud and proud, with rich poached pear and star fruit on the long finish. Almost too powerful really, but makes a huge impression. 20% new oak. Likely to be very good value.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Leading off the two whites, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc is a mix of mostly Grenache Blanc, with some Roussanne, Clairette, and a little Bourboulenc that was brought up in a mix of demi-muid, new and old barrels, and stainless steel. It has a rocking bouquet of white peach, honeyed white flowers, brioche, and subtle spice to go with a medium-bodied, supple, layered style on the palate. It brings plenty of richness, has a great sense of freshness, and will shine on the dinner table.
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Wine Spectator
This opulent, modern version offers good freshness. Oak polish overlays mirabelle plum and spiced apple notes, showing concentration and power on the rich palate, with a beam of saline that charges through. Details of shortbread and warm spices spill out across the long finish. Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Bourboulenc.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 43% Roussanne, 30% Clairette, 25% Grenache Blanc and 2% Bourboulenc, La Nerthe's 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is a large-scaled, bombastic effort, with smoky-toasty accents to the bold pineapple and tangerine fruit. Some may consider it over the top, but it delivers ample flavor and richness—just don't expect it to age for more than a few years.
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Vinous
Vivid spring blossom, yellow apple, cedar, ripe pear and lemon flesh present the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc. Medium- to full-bodied and kept in check by bright acidity.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.