Chateau la Nerthe's 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape is roughly one-third each Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, with a sprinkling of a few other permitted varieties. Aged in a combination of foudres and new oak barriques, it offers a clean, balanced nose of cedar and vanilla against a backdrop of raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied, supple and reasonably intense, it finishes long and silky.

The concentrated, dark-fruited 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape is an impressive effort. Always lower in Grenache than most of the wines in the appellation, it remains generous and rich, offering up scents of ripe plums and black cherries, mocha and spice, plus hints of vanilla and dried spices. It's medium to full-bodied, dense and powerful, while remaining approachable and supple, with a slightly dusty edge of tannic structure evident on the finish.

The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape features gentle herb shadings, ripe stone fruit and berry flavors, and a long, clean finish. It's full-bodied but somewhat delicate and silky in feel. I'd opt for drinking this blend of 35% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault over the next 7-8 years.

La Nerthe's 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of 37% Grenache, 29% Syrah, 25% Mourvèdre, 7% Cinsault and 2% others. Aged in a substantial portion of new oak (20%), it shows hints of toast and vanilla on the nose, then plenty of concentrated cherry fruit on the palate. It's full-bodied and plush in texture, making it approachable now, but there's enough tannic backbone and length on the finish to think it will drink well for more than a decade.