2006 Chateauneuf du Pape
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Tasting notes
Unfiltered blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 6% Syrah, 2% each Counoise and Cinsault (60-year-old vines). Aged in old oak casks by next generation Stéphane Usseglio. Lively ruby. Strong garrigue aromas. Very rich and warm. Sweet start with freshness on the finish initially and good fruit concentration in the middle. In the glass it became heavier and heavier and lost its refreshment value. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
One of the strong efforts, and a potential wine of the vintage, is the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale. An extraordinarily superb expression of kirsch liqueur intermixed with sandy, resiny notes as well as hints of seaweed, garrigue, and pepper, this wine is deep, full-bodied fabulously concentrated, with silky tannins and decent acidity. It’s a beauty and clearly a great example of old-vine Grenache made in unmanipulated, uncompromising fashion. Drink it over the next 15+ years. This staunch traditionalist, who ages everything in old barrels for 16 to 18 months, has turned out absolutely sensational 2007s, and his 2006s are certainly among the strongest wines of the vintage. Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800
Thick and dense with an element of stewed fruit about it. Pretty good but lacks a little bit of zip. Lots of pleasure if not too expensive, though I do wonder whether it wasn’t picked just a little bit too late? Grenache with an admixture representing just 10%. (JR)
Very pale. Quite tight and focussed. A little astringent and without much real core of fruit. Very introvert at the moment. (JR)
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 , Syrah / Shiraz, Mourvedre/Monastrell/Mataro, Cinsault, Bourboulenc
Red
Dry