2009 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul, France, Rhone, Wine Review

One of the great Chateauneufs Du Pape and from a great vintage. This is 100 percent Grenache. Ruby/purple in color, clear and bright. The nose is very nice with cherries, spices and "garrique". On the palate, black cherries. The depth seems a bit lacking for the pedigree but perhaps is is a bit shut down at this point. It is a delicious wine and enjoyable. It's more of under-performing high expectations. Tasted twice over the last six months with consistent notes. It is food friendly but will take heartier stews and meat dishes.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2009

Current Price:

$80.00USD

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Rhone Valley & Spanish Rhone-style Wines Tasted at the 2008 Hospice du Rhone Events

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we reported on American Rhone-style wines we tasted at the 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008. We noted that this event was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective because, unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. While this was a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers weren’t represented, there was still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts.

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2016 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$80.00USD

Wow. A spectacular wine. This is of course very young but it is so delicious and enjoyable. It won't hit peak for a decade at least. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is peppery with black cherries, spice, soy, garrique and floral notes. On the palate, this is viscous with a wonderful texture. Lots of black cherry and black raspberry fruit. A bit of liqueur. Long finish. This is made from 100% Grenache. Right now it's a difficult food match but give it time in the cellar and it should be great with meats and fowl. It you have a few though, you would be missing somethi

2009 Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Impériale, France, Rhone, Wine review

Vintage:

2009

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$85.00USD

This was tasted from a magnum that had been opened for a couple of hours. Delicious and drinking great. 2009 has been an open and for the most part, accessible vintage since release, yet also an excellent vintage. Made from 90% Grenache. Deep ruby in color, purple at the core. The nose has raspberries, spice, dust and a bit of an interesting pine note. What a great texture it has. On the palate, there are raspberries over a charred wood with just a hint of the pine. It has some complexity as it unwinds in the glass. A long finish. This is not a brute wine and indeed, more elegant

2007 Domaine de la Solitude (Lançon Père et Fils) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Cornelia Constanza, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2007

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$83.00USD

This is drinking well. Probably at or close to peak at this point. Ruby/purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, slight floral notes and garrique. On the palate, there is some oak showing though this is brought up more in tank than barrel. Perhaps just from concentrated old vine/stems? Cherries, black raspberries and slight funk. Starting to show some layering though that will doubtless expand over the next decade. I don't think it get's better but will continue to morph, so it depends on how you like them. Nice finish. This is very food friendly and would

2016 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$65.00USD

What a great showing for this wine. Yes, it is still a bit young, but really one of the best showings from this house I have seen. Time to get a few more bottles. It is 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault. Purple in color, ruby at the core. The nose is great with black raspberries, baking spices, garrique and slight lavender. Full bodied. Luxurious texture. Rich and full bodied. Medium tannins. Lots of concentrated black raspberry fruit over a bed of char and gravel. Long finish. Delicious. One of those wine when each sip makes one want another. It drinks g

2009 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul, France, Rhone, Wine Review

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