2022 Domaine Raymond Usseglio Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Apôtres
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Tasting notes
The rare cuvée Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Apôtres, is a little more discreet on the nose than his two siblings, but it has roses bouquet, with an earthy element, leather and crushed stones coming on the nose. This medium-bodied CNdP has silky tannins with a great grip and tension. Mouth-coating on the mid palate, it brings notes of redberries, chocolate and peppery spices, driven by a clean nerve of acidity. Once again this is bluffing and extremely pleasant through the long and persistent finish. Surprisingly, this should be approachable young, already so approachable for a tank sample. Give it 2-3 years to express itself fully.
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Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
Jeb Dunnuck
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The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Apôtres is an interesting mix of 38% Grenache, 8% Cinsault, 8% Muscardin, 7% Mourvèdre, 6% Syrah, 6% Clairette Rose, and the rest a mix of varieties that was brought up all in clay jars. It's a pretty, medium-bodied, floral, elegant wine that has a solid core of bright red fruit (strawberries, raspberries), a pure, elegant texture, soft tannins, and outstanding length. As with many 2022s, I don't see this making terribly old bones, but it certainly has the balance, purity, and elegance to evolve gracefully over the coming decade.
In certain vintages, Stephan Usseglio makes a special cuvée, made with all whole clusters in terracotta amphorae. The 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Apotres is about 30% Grenache, with the rest a mix of the 12 other permitted grape varieties. This is heady and perfumed, with notes of stone fruit, peppery spice, red raspberries and potpourri. Full-bodied and creamy-textured, it finishes long and a bit warm, but it's compelling stuff.
The fifth iteration of this cuvée, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Apotres features a co-fermentation of the 13 authorized varieties that undergo a lengthy 120-day maceration. It reveals a dense, vibrant bouquet of cassis, mulberries, dark cherries, licorice, lead pencil, tapenade, garrigue and spices. Full-bodied, dense and rich with an enveloping texture, it's seamless and perfectly balanced with a sappy, fleshy core of fruit that segues into a dense, long and endless finish, establishing its preeminence among the domaine’s offerings. This is a cuvée that invariably benefits from extended cellaring.
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.