2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvée Impériale, Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils, Rhône

Made from vines that date from 1902, 90 percent of which Stéphane knows to be Grenache and 10 percent he’s a little less sure about, the Impériale is an extremely impressive achievement that is aged for over 18 months before release. The most striking quality of this wine, given that concentration is axiomatic from such a producer in such a year, is the length on the palate, which is simply astonishing. Drink 2022-2030+.
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

Stéphane’s vineyards are equally divided between the galet-strewn parcels around Orange and Courthézon and the sandier, chalkier soils heading south towards the Crau plateau and the village of Bédarrides. The emphasis on traditional winemaking is now embroidered with new ideas, a little new oak and laudable ambition; the ensemble is getting better and better each year, yet still constitutes excellent value. Now seen as every bit as good as his distant cousins at Domaine Pierre Usseglio, Stéphane is embracing biodynamic viticulture in his unceasing efforts to excel.