Chateau La Nerthe Chateauneuf du Pape 'Cuvee des Cadettes' 2016

This deep ruby intense Grenache blend offers a very expressive nose full of black cherry, blackcurrant, and sweet spices notes. The palate is fresh, well-balanced, enhanced with graphite and boysenberries aromas. Perfectly matured tannins give the feeling of a long, full bodied and elegant wine that can age for 20 years at least. To enjoy with hare stew, wild boar stew and duck fillet with pepper sauce.  Drink 2018-2033.

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck    Similarly colored, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Cadettes is a Grenache-heavy blend that includes 38% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. It was not destemmed and was brought up in 28% new barrels, with the balance in foudres. It offers more cassis, graphite, spicy wood, and minerality, full-bodied richness, a deep, powerful texture, integrated acidity, and awesome structure. It's a rock star wine from this estate that won't hit maturity for a decade and will keep for 10-15 years after that in cold cellars. It’s the finest wine from this estate since the 2010, 2005, and 1998. 

96 Points - Wine Enthusiast    This is a luscious, creamy wine that's full of rich black-cherry and berry flavors edged by piquant hits of anise and black pepper. A concentrated wine structured by firm, taut tannins, it maintains lively freshness on the midpalate. This powerful wine is a bit unwieldy in its youth but should gain finesse through 2030 and hold further still.

94 Points - James Suckling    Berry and plum pastry with poached, red fruit and an array of wild herbs. The palate delivers rich, spicy, dark berries with convincing depth and drive. From organically grown grapes. Drink in 2020.  

94 Points - Vinous    Deep lurid ruby. Intense red fruit preserve and floral pastille aromas develop suggestions of exotic spices, vanilla and woodsmoke in the glass. Sappy and deeply concentrated yet energetic as well, offering palate-staining blackberry and cherry compote flavors that are given spine and focus by a core of juicy acidity. Conveys a suave combination of richness and elegance and finishes extremely long and sweet; supple tannins sneak in slowly to add framework and grip.

93 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate    The 2016 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée des Cadettes is showing a bit more oak than the 2015 did last year, but I also tasted it a couple of months earlier in its evolution, so I expect the wine will continue to soak up the wood as it goes forward. Right now, the blend of 52% Grenache, 38% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre is toasty and cedary, marked by vanilla and baking spices. Some cola and dark berry notes emerge with airing, and it appears that the wine has the requisite weight and richness to carry the 28% new barriques used in its élevage. Give it another couple of years and drink it over the next two decades.