2011 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils, Rhône
- Red
- Dry
- Full Bodied
Ready - mature
- Jancis Robinson MW
- 17/20
- Jeb Dunnuck
- 92/100
Product: 20118116141
Description
With no Mon Aieul made in 2011, all the best fruit has gone into this classic cuvée, and a very fine effort it is too. The blend is 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, 5% Mourvèdre and ageing has been shared between cement and wood, that is to say tank and foudre. A superb and warming wine, with a herbal nose, what follows is a luxuriant palate with dark fruit and a savoury undercurrent.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer
We often buy the wine from Pierre Usseglio but do not always put it into our printed offer, for fear of engendering confusion. To have two domaines named Usseglio in the village is slightly surprising in itself, surreal even; the high quality of both makes it even more so. On reflection, it is logical however, as both branches are from the same Italian vinous scion and both were clearly very well taught. Brothers Thierry and Jean-Pierre’s domaine is in the shadows of the ruins of the pope’s castle but their 25 hectares are spread widely over the five communes and the wines are seldom far from the lime-light.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer
We often buy the wine from Pierre Usseglio but do not always put it into our printed offer, for fear of engendering confusion. To have two domaines named Usseglio in the village is slightly surprising in itself, surreal even; the high quality of both makes it even more so. On reflection, it is logical however, as both branches are from the same Italian vinous scion and both were clearly very well taught. Brothers Thierry and Jean-Pierre’s domaine is in the shadows of the ruins of the pope’s castle but their 25 hectares are spread widely over the five communes and the wines are seldom far from the lime-light.
Colour Red
Sweetness Dry
Vintage 2011
Maturity Ready - mature
Body Full Bodied
Producer Domaine Pierre Usseglio
Critics reviews
Jancis Robinson MW 17/20
Mid ruby. Glossy, savoury nose. Firm and then sweet – more like other vintages than some of the southern Rhône 2011s. Very chewy but the tannins are fine. Quite piercing and well defined at the moment. GV jancis_robinson_mw MW, JancisRobinson.com – 28 Feb 2013
Jeb Dunnuck 92/100
With no Mon Aieul or Reserve des Deux Freres in the vintage, all of the juice went into their 2011 Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Comprised of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault and 5% Mourvedre and aged half in concrete and half in foudre (Mourvedre and Syrah in demi-muid), it’s a gorgeous wine in the vintage and has layers of sweet black raspberry fruit, licorice, spice-cake and garrigue all emerging from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, rich and textured, with no shortage of fruit, this beauty will drink nicely through 2021. Drink now-2021. An estate that continues to churn out outstanding wine after outstanding wine, regardless of the vintage, Domaine Pierre Usseglio is obviously in fine hands with brothers Jean-Pierre and Thierry Usseglio running the show. Covering roughly 55 acres in the appellation, they normally produce three Chateauneuf du Papes: a traditional made cuvee that’s roughly 75% Grenache and the rest Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault; a Grenache dominate Cuvee De Mon Aieul that’s aged in concrete tank; and their top Reserve des Deux Freres, which normally includes some Syrah and sees a small portion in new oak barrels. There was only one Chateauneuf du Pape produced in 2011, and no Reserve des Deux Freres in 2012. jeb_dunnuck - Wine Advocate #209, Oct 2013
About this wine
Domaine Pierre Usseglio
This first class domaine is now run by Pierre Usseglio's sons Jean-Pierre and Thierry. It has recently expanded with the purchase of seven hectares of vines that Jean-Pierre had previously worked en metayage. The vineyards are split into three separate plots of vineyards in the La Crau, Serres and Le Bedine subzones of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The vineyards are old with an average age of 80 years and are planted with Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne.
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Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The largest and most important appellation in the southern Rhône, with more than 3,200 hectares of vineyards and over 80 growers, Châteauneuf-du-Pape produces more wine than the whole of the northern Rhône combined. The gloriously rich red wines, redolent of the heat and herbs of the south, are enhanced by the complexity which comes from blending several of the 14 permitted grape varieties including Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah.
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Registered company 05492886. BB&R Limited, trading as Berry Bros. & Rudd, 3 St James's Street, London, SW1A 1EG. All rights reserved. You must be 18 or over to order. Calls may be recorded. Global Footer label test.
