The estate’s entry-level release, the 2013 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Granieres is a fruity, elegant and balanced effort that offers medium-bodied depth and richness, a soft texture and a clean finish. It’s obviously well-made, but is geared for near-term consumption.

Kicking off the 2012s, the Chateauneuf du Pape Les Granieres de la Nerthe offers loads of garrigue, peppery herbs, spice and assorted jammy fruits in its Proven?al, medium-bodied, soft and downright delicious profile. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years.

The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Granieres reveals slightly more strawberry and cherry along with a hint of crushed rock and some floral notes such as lavender in the background, delivered with a medium-bodied, precise mouthfeel. It should drink nicely for up to a decade. Readers should realize that neither the luxury cuvee, the white Chateauneuf du Pape, La Nerthe Clos de Beauvenir, not the sensational top red cuvee called Cuvee des Cadettes were produced in 2011. The seriousness of La Nerthe is evidenced by the introduction of a second wine in order to preserve the integrity and exquisite quality of their top cuvees. Their new red, the Chateauneuf du Pape Les Granieres, is primarily a blend of nearly 50% Grenache and almost equal portions of Mourvedre and Syrah, with a touch of Cinsault, aged largely in old wood foudres, but with some of the Syrah and Mourvedre components in small barrels. Importer: Pasternak Wine Imports, Harrison, NY; tel. (800) 946-3110

The 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Granieres, which is made from their younger vines and, I suppose, lots not considered good enough for their finest Chateauneuf. It is a consumer-friendly offering displaying loads of kirsch and strawberry notes, soft tannins, and abundant fruit. It is already drinking well, and should be delicious over the next 3-4 years. (Not yet released) This great estate has proven to be one of the few contrarians in both 2007 and 2008. Why? With the proliferation of special cuvees in the great vintage of 2007, La Nerthe was the outlier, not producing their famed Cuvee des Cadettes. However, in 2008, an average quality vintage in which most Chateauneuf du Pape estates did not produce a special cuvee, La Nerthe made a Cuvee des Cadettes. They have also introduced a second wine called Les Granieres. Importer: Clicquot Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 888-7575