2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes

Made from close to equal parts Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre aged in 80% new barrels, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Cadettes offers more black raspberry, vanilla bean, cured meats, and spice, as well as medium to full-bodied richness, solid purity, nicely integrated acidity and outstanding length. This is a fresh, classic release from this estate that should be at its best from 2020-2030. I continue to find the wines from Chateau la Nerthe outstanding, however, the shift towards leaner and leaner wines is troubling.

La Nerthe's 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes is a blend of approximately one-third each Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Eighty percent of the wine spent a year in new oak barrels, but much of that has been absorbed into the wine, and I see that my notes don't make reference to overt oak descriptors. Scents of raspberry and spice lead the way, followed by a firm, full-bodied palate. The tannins are present from front to back, but they're ripe and silky, lingering elegantly on the finish.