2016 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau
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Tasting notes
We are thrilled to offer the last few cases of one of our most popular releases of 2016 Chateuneuf-du-Papes. From the most pedigreed vineyard of the appellation, La Crau, and one of our favourite producers, Raymond Usseglio, this is a beautiful example of terroir, pedigree and rarity. We have said it before, but it bears repeating: the 2016 vintage in the Southern Rhone is one of the greatest in recent memory. Leading Rhone critic Jeb Dunnuck describes the wines as "beautifully concentrated and structured…the tannin quality is beautiful, the wines have noticeable freshness and purity and the alcohol integrated… This is truly an extraordinary vintage." He goes on: "Save up for these 2016s as this is an incredible vintage.” This wine is from a tiny parcel of the La Crau vineyard made famous by Henri Bonneau and also closely associated with Vieux Telegraphe. The stony La Crau plateau is emblematic of Chateauneuf du Pape's finest terroir, where sandy, pebbly soils and 70-80 year old vines mean only the smallest amounts of exquisite fruit are farmed; the domaine produced a mere 600 bottles in 2016. At a tasting of a selection of blends made by Raymond Usseglio, this was the real stand out in terms of power and depth and what you would hope to expect from a wine entirely coming from very old vines (70-80 years old). A lovely fragrance of lavender, herbs and liquorice oscillates from the glass. The palate has a wonderful layered mouthfeel, ripe and opulent with roasted strawberries and red berry fruit flavours with an underlying dark chocolate richness. The wine has a good tannic structure, well integrated but well framed and a long finish. A fine example exemplifying the positive attributes from one of the finest vintages in the Southern Rhone in decades.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Brilliant ruby-red. A highly expressive bouquet evokes red fruit preserves, cherry cola, incense and spicecake, and a smoky mineral element contributes energetic lift. Velvety in texture and deeply concentrated, offering intense, spice-accented Chambord, cherry liqueur and candied lavender flavors firmed by a spine of juicy acidity. Concentrated but graceful in style. Finishes very long, spicy and precise, with youthfully firming tannins adding closing grip. 95% Grenache, from vines that were planted in 1901 and 1902; aged for 18 months in concrete vats.
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.
About the producer
Domaine Raymond Usseglio is one of the leading producers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, producing a number of different red and white cuvées from the appellation. The domaine’s most famous wine is their Châteauneuf-du-Pape Impériale, which comes exclusively from vines that are over 100 years old.
Product details
Grenache/ Garnacha , Mourvedre/Monastrell/Mataro, Cinsault, Counoise
Red
Dry