Château la Nerthe

The history of Château La Nerthe

In 1560, the Tulle de Villefranche family - who had settled in Avignon in the 14th century - bought what was then a bastide surrounded by vineyards. They reigned over the estate for three centuries, working tirelessly to develop the vineyard into one of the most prestigious in the Rhône Valley.

Construction of Château La Nerthe began in 1694, with two towers and a chapel. It wasn't until 1784 that it achieved its definitive architecture. By this time, the Tulle family was already exporting its wine throughout Europe and as far afield as North America.

In 1870, Commandant Joseph Ducos bought Château La Nerthe. During the phylloxera crisis, he was one of the first to understand the benefits of grafting vines onto disease-resistant rootstocks. His work earned him a gold medal from the Vaucluse Chamber of Agriculture in 1891. He was even cited by President Lebrun as "the soul of viticultural reconstitution".

Jacques Ducos also initiated the planting of the founding grape varieties of the Châteauneuf du Pape appellation. His neighbor, Baron Le Roy de Boiseaumarié, was inspired to create France's first Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in 1936.

In 1985, the Richard family acquired Château La Nerthe and has managed it ever since.

The Château La Nerthe vineyard

The Château La Nerthe vineyard nestles in the heart of Provence, 80 kilometers north of Marseille. Its vineyards cover 92 hectares in the Châteauneuf du Pape appellation, including 60 hectares in a single block around the château. The remaining 32 hectares are located a little further east, on the La Crau plateau, just a few hundred meters away.

The vineyard is made up of a mosaic of 57 plots, covering the four soil types specific to the Châteauneuf du Pape appellation, as well as its thirteen grape varieties. The plots alternate between hillsides and terraces.

The 13 grape varieties of the Châteauneuf du Pape appellation

Grenache (Noir, Gris, Blanc)
Syrah
Mourvèdre
Cinsault
Clairette (Blanche, Rose)
Vaccarèse
Bourboulenc
Roussanne
Counoise
Muscardin
Picpoul (White, Grey, Black)
Picardan
Terret Black

The wines of Château La Nerthe

Château La Nerthe - Châteauneuf du Pape - Rouge

A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, this is an intense wine with outstanding ageing potential.

The wine has a dense garnet-red color. Its intense nose blends scents of wild strawberry and cherry. The palate is reminiscent of garrigue, enriched with sweet spices and silky tannins.

Château La Nerthe - Cuvée des Cadettes - Châteauneuf du Pape

Cuvée des Cadettes comes from the oldest parcels of vines growing Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. It is one of the region's most elegant wines, combining power and balance.