2020 Chateau La Nerthe Chateauneuf du Pape Les Clavelles, Rhone, France

Les Clavelles is a single parcel of Grenache that sits atop Le Crau, the famed plateau of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. After years of careful selection, this plot of loamy sands dotted with large pebbles was identified for its unique ability to express the terroir of Châteauneuf-du-Pape within a single varietal. With a gentle southwest-facing slope, these vines benefit from direct sunlight in the late afternoon and the famed Mistral winds from the North. The grapes are hand-picked and hand-sorted before whole clusters are fermented in a wooden tank. Pump-overs and punch-downs occur daily during fermentation to ensure optimal extraction of compounds. Maceration lasts 3-4 weeks before aging for 12 months partly in foudres or large old oak casks and partly in old oak barrels.

Harvest Note:  The 2020 vintage had good weather overall. Low rainfall through the year was enough for the soil to build a water reserve and allow the vines to cope with the summer heat wave. Rains at the end of August and end of September slowed the maturity of the grapes. Harvest began in late August. The grapes were generous with a higher quantity than the previous vintage.

Tasting Note:  Ruby red with a purple border, this powerful yet elegant wine offers notes of blackcurrant, cherry jam, peony, licorice, and garrigue or Mediterranean herbs. The long finish showcases the elegant fruit character of this unique plot.