Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tradition rouge 2022

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

A classic Châteauneuf estate, taken over in 2004 by Stéphane, Raymond's son, with vines scattered throughout the region, including very old Grenache vines in Pialons and Grand Pierre. The wines have the power and length on the palate that one would expect. The prestigious Imperial cuvée, a small portion of which is aged in barrels, is produced from old Grenache vines.

Decanter

About wine:

Infused with black cherries and ripe, thick fruit, this wine is striking for a Tradition cuvée. However, it is not overly ripe or alcoholic, but rather muscular and powerful. It may not be the most complex, but it is probably a good option for those who enjoy bold and thunderous Châteauneufs.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Successive purchases enabled Raymond Usseglio to expand the area of this Castelpapal estate, established by his father Francis, who came from Italy in 1931 to work the land, to 33 hectares. Since 1999, his only son, Stéphane, has taken over the running of the estate. Organic and biodynamic certifications have been obtained.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

The promising Châteauneuf du Pape 2022 (tasted from the vat) displays effusive notes of cherry, stone fruit, and garrigue. Full-bodied and silky, it looks to be an excellent vintage for this cuvée, which finishes with great length and elegance.

About the estate:

Stephan Usseglio has propelled this certified organic and biodynamic estate, named after his father, to the top of the region. In addition, he has continued to experiment, trying different aging and fermentation tanks, single-varietal cuvées, and blends outside the appellation's boundaries to create innovative French wines that often offer considerable value. As part of his efforts to reduce alcohol levels, he plants Clairette when he has to replace a dead Grenache vine. "There are one or two degrees [of potential alcohol] less at harvest," explains Mr. Usseglio. The quality of the white wines has improved over recent vintages and has become one of the estate's priorities, with white wines now accounting for 25% of production. There are limited-production, high-end versions of pure Clairette and Roussanne, but the blended cuvée, which is also excellent, should not be overlooked. In 2021, Mr. Usseglio said, "We were lucky not to be frozen—only five hectares out of 25 were affected." Of course, he and his harvesters had to dodge the same raindrops as everyone else during the harvest, but his 2021s turned out very well. In 2022, he says, "we had a good winter, then it was very dry, with small berries. With the cool nights, the vines didn't stop growing, and we already had finesse at the end of August. Fermentation was rapid, malolactic fermentation was rapid [and] the wines are accessible early, as in 2007." If the wines really turn out to be like those of 2007, the 2022 vintage could be one of the greatest, and not just for this estate.

Jancis Robinson

About wine:

Primary nose—notes of plum and prune. Hints of licorice and fine, chewy tannins. Lovely notes of leather and sweet spices. Well-balanced oak and a rich, powerful finish.

James Suckling

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

The Châteauneuf Du Pape 2022 (mainly Grenache with small amounts of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Counoise) is the first red wine in the range. It is a lovely, fragrant, elegant, medium-bodied wine with floral aromas of sweet raspberry and cherry, notes of bread spices and peppery Provençal garrigue, fine tannins, and a beautiful finish. It is an excellent example of the quality and style of this estate today. It will drink well in its youth and will evolve for 10 to 15 years if stored properly.