1995 Chateauneuf du Pape

At first, the outstanding 1995 Chateauneuf du Pape is tightly-knit and difficult to penetrate, but airing brings forth marvelous richness and intensity. The dark ruby color is accompanied by copious amounts of sweet black cherry and raspberry fruit, along with pepper, iodine, and earth. It is full-bodied, powerful, and rich, with plenty of sweet fruit and glycerin on the attack, but then some of the wine's muscle and tannin kick in. This is a structured, intensely rich Chateauneuf du Pape that will benefit from another 2-3 years of cellaring. It should drink well for 12-15 years. There are three different Usseglios, all bottling wines under their name in Chateauneuf du Pape. My favorite wines generally are those of Pierre Usseglio, although making such a choice is often difficult. This is a small estate, and the wines usually sell out quickly. Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173