Pierre Usseglio CDP 2016 (JD 92-94)

Jeb Dunnuck 92-94
2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape includes slightly more Mourvèdre than normal and was brought up mostly in tank, with smaller amounts in demi-muids, barrels, and foudre. Blackberries, incense, licorice and beautifully complex spice characteristics flow to a full-bodied, opulent 2016 that ticks all the right boxes. With sweet tannin and beautiful purity, drink it over the coming 10-15 years. This estate hasn’t missed a beat in the past decade (or more) and their 2015s and 2016s both check-in near the top of the pyramid. It’s worth noting that this estate has started including slightly more stems than in the past while pulling back on the new barrels. Nevertheless, this is one estate who’s wines handle their oak elevage beautifully.

James Suckling 93
Attractive freshness and power, this typifies much of what is great about the 2016 vintage. It carries the ripeness well. Dark berries and flowers lead to ripe plums and succulent, long tannins carrying abundant, ripe, dark fruit. Blows out big flavor on the finish. Drink or hold.

80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault