2010 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de Mon Aieul

The Usseglio’s consider the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul to be their greatest to date. I’ve done numerous tastings with the 2010 and 2007 side by side, and more times than not, I think the 2007 is the better wine. Time will tell though, and both are sensational wines that readers should have in their cellars. The inky colored 2010 is 100% Grenache fermented with 30% stems and aged in a combination of older barrels and foudre. More focused and precise than the '07 (and even darker in color), yet still with massive concentration and depth, it offers deep, rich notes of blackberries, cassis, ground herbs, pepper and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, thick and layered on the palate, it never puts a foot wrong, has fabulous purity and a blockbuster finish. It needs 3-4 years of cellaring, but will have 20-25 years of longevity.

You can see the level of concentration of fruit in the deep color, and sense it on the palate with the decadent levels of sublime pure, ripe, fresh berries, silky tannins and in the long, rich finish. Usseglio has been on fire since 1998! This is a beautiful style and expression of Grenache with a track record for aging.

Inky ruby. Red and dark berries on the highly perfumed, floral-accented nose. Lush but energetic, offering intense black raspberry and lavender pastille flavors and showing strong spicy cut. Fine-grained tannins give shape to a strikingly long, sappy finish. Superbly energetic and rich. (JR)