2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Imperiale

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape checks in as mostly Grenache (there’s 10% Mourvèdre) raised in concrete tanks. This classic 2016 has abundant black raspberry and black cherry fruit, notes of garrigue, pepper, and spice, medium to full body, and a layered, balanced style on the palate. It’s another sensational classic cuvée from this vintage. While the domaine of Raymond Usseglio has sat in the shadow of Domaine Pierre Usseglio in the past, that is changing under the helm of the young Stéphane Usseglio and the estate is making singular, world-class wines today. They have a new state of the art cellar located on the northern edge of the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and pull from around 45 acres of vines, mostly in the center and northern part of the appellation. From this, they produce a number of cuvées, yet the core is the traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape, based on 80-90% Grenache and the balance Mourvèdre, the La Parte des Anges, based primarily on Mourvèdre, and the Cuvée Imperiale, based on tank-aged old vine Grenache. They have a Cuvée Girard which is basically a tweaked version of the traditional cuvée and have introduced a new Les Apotres cuvée, an amphora-raised blend of all the permitted varieties. Bottom line, the estate is making beautiful wines.

Almost entirely Grenache, from parcels planted in 1901 and 1902, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale is a stunner. Scents of roses, black tea and raspberries set the scene, while the palate is full-bodied but silky and nearly weightless, delivering an intricate, detailed interplay of red fruit, dried spices and orange zest. Despite what must be 15% alcohol or more, it shows absolutely no sign of heat.

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape gives up plenty of plum, blackberry and peppery garrigue, full-bodied richness, terrific purity and serious length. This is a great, great vintage, and this wine shows it.