CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE Domaine Pierre Usseglio 2015
Domaine Usseglio is family-owned and dates back to 1948. That year, the grandfather, Francis Usseglio, leaves Italy to work in Châteauneuf-du-Pape as a vineyard-worker. His first crop came out of the press in 1949.
This renowned estate is now managed by brothers Thierry and Jean-Pierre Usseglio, who share their time between cellar and vineyard. After taking over the estate of their father, Pierre, in 1998, these diligent brothers gradually modernised the cellars. They sought to improve quality without compromising the traditional style adopted by their father.
The vineyard covers 39 hectares: 24 hectares of red Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 1 hectare of white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 6 hectares of red Lirac, 6 hectares of Côtes-du-Rhône and 2 hectares of Vin de France.
This cuvée is a blend of Grenache (80%), Syrah (10%), Cinsault (5%) and Mourvèdre (5%) whose average age varies between 35 and 75 years. The aging takes place in oak casks, demi-muids, concrete tank and barrel for 12 months.
2015 is a generous vintage that has been marked by several episodes of hot weather and storms that arrived at the right time. The 2015 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape can already be described as generous in every sense of the word. Generous in color, structure and maturity. But also generous in quantity, which is quite rare in an appellation known for the small yield quantities.