Les Cassagnes operates as a separate estate under the same ownership as Château La Nerthe.Supplied
With a reputation as one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s oldest and largest estates, Château La Nerthe has gained a following with wine collectors and sommeliers around the world. Its top wines are tightly accolated, which makes the recently developed Les Cassagnes label an attractive (and more affordable) alternative.
A red and white blend of Les Cassagnes is produced each vintage from a vineyard in Serignan-du-Comtat, 10 kilometres north of La Nerthe’s estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The location means the wines are labelled with the generic Côtes du Rhône appellation, but they are made to a higher standard, says sales director Christophe Bristiel.
“This is Côtes du Rhône with a sense of place,” Bristiel says. The red wine was first released in 2013, while the white is celebrating its inaugural release with the 2020 vintage.
The second largest appellation in France, the Côtes du Rhône category is broad. It is home to some 5,000 producers, including co-operatives and négociants specializing in value-price brands. With vineyards located in more than 90 villages, it also allows for more complex wines made from vineyards with lower yields to produce riper grapes and resulting wines with slightly higher alcohol.
Christophe Bristiel is the Commercial Director at Château La Nerthe.Supplied
Les Cassagnes operates as a separate estate under the same ownership as Château La Nerthe. Cassagnes means “planted with oak trees” in local dialect. The hillside vegetation also features wild herbs, such as laurel, thyme and rosemary, which often present themselves in the aroma of the red wine. Some tasters use the term garrigue to describe the complex fragrance.
A challenging growing season in 2019 resulted in an atypical blend for the Les Cassagnes Côtes du Rhône-Villages. Grenache vines struggled to produce a healthy crop, which means more syrah was used than usual in the finished blend.
The change doesn’t detract from the enjoyment at all. The recent release of Les Cassagnes is recommended this week alongside five other distinctive red wines and other noteworthy bottles.
Cassagnes means 'planted with oak trees' in local dialect. The hillside vegetation also features wild herbs, such as laurel, thyme and rosemary, which often present themselves in the aroma of the red wine.Supplied
Carpineto Farnito Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (Italy), PRICE: $29.95
Produced with cabernet sauvignon grapes grown in vineyards near Florence and Siena, this expressive red wine offers attractive cherry, spice and herbal aromas. This is an elegant expression of the variety, with serious fragrance, structure and complexity. It’s a style that’s best enjoyed with a meal. Drink now to 2032. Available in Ontario at the above price, various prices in Alberta, $29.25 in Quebec, $37.99 in Nova Scotia.
Conde Valdemar Reserva 2015 (Spain), PRICE: $23.95
A stylish tempranillo blend from a family-owned winery with substantial vineyard holdings in Rioja, this reserva delivers a complex blend of cedar and plum fruit, with earthy and spicy notes. Ripe and smooth, this is ready to drink thanks to integrated tannins and a terrific balance of fruit and acidity. Drink now to 2025. Available in Ontario at the above price, various prices in Alberta, $22.45 in Quebec, $28.98 in New Brunswick.
Delas Les Launes Crozes-Hermitage 2020 (France), PRICE: $33.95
Made with syrah grown in the northern Rhône, this is a concentrated and ripe red wine with rich dark-fruit flavours and peppery accents. The texture is smooth, with polished tannins that contribute structure and add to the enjoyment. Appealing purity and freshness throughout. Drink now to 2029. Available in Ontario at the above price, various prices in Alberta.
Elyssia Gran Cuvée Brut Cava (Spain), PRICE: $24.95
Produced by Freixenet, one of the world’s largest producers of sparkling wine, Elyssia is a cava that’s simple and refreshing. It offers pleasant citrus and subtle toasty notes on the nose and palate, with a fine bead of bubbles. Drink now. Available in Ontario at the above price, various prices in Alberta, $19.95 in Quebec, $24.99 in New Brunswick, $26.97 in Newfoundland.
Juan Gil Yellow Label Monastrell 2020 (Spain), PRICE: $15.95
Here’s a great value, flavourful red wine that’s packed with concentrated ripe-fruit flavours and rounded out by earthy and cedary notes. The silky-smooth texture makes for a crowd-pleasing style, with enough complexity and character to keep your senses engaged. Drink now to 2025. Available in Ontario at the above price, various prices in Alberta, $18.99 in New Brunswick.
La Nerthe Les Cassagnes Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2019 (France), PRICE: $24.95
The unusual blend in 2019 features more syrah than grenache and mourvèdre, but Les Cassagnes continues to impress. The easy to appreciate mix of juicy red fruit with floral and herbal accents makes for a harmonious and approachable red wine. Drink now to 2025. Available in Ontario at the above price, various prices in British Columbia and Alberta.
Murphy-Goode Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (United States), PRICE: $24.95
This ripe red wine from California is made from a blend of cabernet sauvignon with merlot, syrah, petit verdot and cabernet franc. The result is a complex wine with dark fruit and oak-derived vanilla and spice notes. It’s dry and nicely structured, which makes this stand out from many similarly priced red wines from California. Drink now to 2026. Available in Ontario at the above price, various prices in British Columbia and Alberta.
Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay 2021 (United States), PRICE: $71.95
Rombauer is synonymous with this full-bodied and opulent style of chardonnay, which boasts a concentrated core of citrus, pear and peach with nutty and creamy notes. There’s enough freshness to cut through the richness and make for a balanced white that’s still amongst the vanguard of California chardonnay. Drink now to 2025. Available in Ontario at the above price, $69.99 in British Columbia, various prices in Alberta.
William Fèvre Champs Royaux Chablis 2019 (France), PRICE: $32.95
Champs Royaux is a consistently enjoyable label from Chablis producer William Fèvre, which has been making wine in the region since 1958. The 2019 vintage is an inviting white wine with appealing intensity and complexity, suggesting nicely calibrated citrus, apple and chalky notes. Dry and refreshing, this is rounded out by rich lemon-curd flavours and a relatively full body. Drink now to 2026. Available in Ontario at the above price, $37.99 in British Columbia, $30.75 in Quebec.
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