2023 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf Du Pape Cuvee De Mon Aieul
The 2023 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul is more vibrant and perfumed than last year, unfurling with aromas of violet, rose petals, mulberries and garrigue. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and textural, it’s concentrated yet supple, with a fleshy core of fruit framed by velvety tannins and concluding with a long, lively and ethereal finish. Crafted entirely from Grenache Noir vinified with whole clusters, it’s precise and superbly realized.
Domaine Pierre Usseglio cultivates 25 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, divided among 17 parcels on sand, clay, limestone and galets roulés. Grenache dominates the cépages, supported by Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Old vines, many between 35 and 75 years of age, provide the backbone of the domaine’s plantings, and harvesting is carried out entirely by hand. Low yields and parcel-specific viticulture remain central to the estate’s philosophy.
In the cellar, about 60% of the red fruit is destemmed. Fermentations, conducted with native yeasts under temperature control, last 25 to 35 days. Macerations are long, but extraction remains measured. Élevage occurs in a combination of concrete vats, demi-muids and older foudres, lasting 12 to 18 months, depending on the cuvée. Whites are treated to long pressing, cool fermentations and maturation on the lees to emphasize freshness and texture.
Beyond Châteauneuf, the Usseglio family has also expanded into Lirac, producing a red from Roquemaure since 2011 and, more recently, a white—half Grenache Blanc, half Clairette—both increasingly precise in execution.
— Yohan Castaing (10/16/2025)
© wine advocate | Reprinted with Permission
wine advocate (2025)
