2015 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape

44% Grenache Noir, 28% Syrah, 25% Mourvèdre, 2% Cinsault and 1% others. 18 to 21 days with regular pumping overs and punching downs. The wines were racked into concrete tanks for malolactic fermentation and then racked into big oak casks for 12 months before blending. Paler, milder and gentler on the nose than the 2016. Though there is quite a bit of insistent tannin as well as acidity on the palate. Still needs to settle down a bit – and quite warm on the end. Spicy cocktail and with definitely more structure than a supermarket Châteauneuf, but not quite ready. (JR)

I found the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape closed and reserved, with fresh notes of black cherries, cured meats, and peppery spice. Medium-bodied, fresh and nicely focused on the palate, I'd like to see more density here, but it's clean, well-made and balanced. Drink it over the coming decade. I continue to find the wines from Chateau la Nerthe outstanding, however, the shift towards leaner and leaner wines is troubling.

There's almost 20% new oak in this 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape, which gives it an overlay of exotic toasted coconut and vanilla aromas and flavors. Beyond that, there's ample weight, hints of cinnamon and clove and cherry fruit that lingers on the silky finish.