la Fine de Château La Nerthe

Inspired by the decree of the appellation governing "Eau de vie des Côtes du Rhône", La Nerthe revived a forgotten tradition. The Château now produces "Fine de Châteauneuf-du-Pape", a vintage eau de vie distilled from wines that have successfully passed the dégustation d'agrément, the tasting permitting a wine to be classified as an AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Distillation is in three phases: the head, the heart of the distillation and the tails. Only the heart, which attains 70% alcohol and represents the best quality of the distillation is retained for this eau de vie. It is matured in small barrels of Limousin oak for a minimum of five years.
Thanks to evaporation through the wood barrels during the ageing process (called poetically "la part des anges" - the angel's share), and due to the repeated addition of small quantities of distilled water, the alcohol content is progressively brought down to 40 %.
Simultaneously, the wood imparts a superb color of light oak and a palette of complex aromas of raisins, hazelnuts, port and rum: in the mouth there is a beautiful balance and flavors of oak, spices and butter.