The exact same blend as the 2005 was utilized in the 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape blanc, and it is a terrific wine, probably the best white Chateauneuf du Pape La Nerthe has made with the exception of their special cuvee Clos de Beauvenir. This wine has exuberant/impressive depth, great freshness, and exotic tropical fruit notes intermixed with some crushed rocks and floral notes. It is a full-bodied wine with considerable soul and personality. Because of the use of small barriques, especially 100% of them for the top-notch Cuvee des Cadettes Chateauneuf du Pape, I suppose it’s popular to say that La Nerthe is a modern style of Chateauneuf du Pape, but I would prefer to use the word “progressive.” That’s largely because this is an estate where the new oak is not overdone, due mostly to their use of so much Mourvedre and Syrah in the final blend. In fact, other than Beaucastel and Clos St.-Michel, La Nerthe is the only other estate in Chateauneuf du Pape to use so much Mourvedre in their wines, which obviously provides structure. Moreover, the Mourvedre can handle barriques. Importer: Clicquot Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 888-7575