CLOS N°18 Pierre Usseglio Archives - Domaine Pierre Usseglio

JEB DUNNUCK 2023

Gregory2025-11-20T11:44:17+01:00

2023 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf Du Pape Clos Pierre Usseglio n°18 PRERATING

A co-fermented blend of all 18 varieties, vinified in inox and aged in terra cotta amphora for a year with no destemming, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Clos No 18 shows a medium ruby hue with a classy nose of mulled red fruits, Provençal herbs, spice, and licorice. It’s medium-bodied and has a supple, layered, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It’s always an incredibly fun cuvée to taste and is a unique, singular effort that will be on a fast evolutionary track. Drink 2025-2032.
One of the leading estates (as well as a personal favorite) in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is Domaine Pierre Usseglio, which is run by brothers Thierry and Jean-Pierre Usseglio, with the next generation of Gregory Usseglio now taking a larger and larger role. They farm roughly 60 hectares and produce a wide range of wines, including a Vin de France L’Unique (which replaced their Côtes du Rhône), a terrific Lirac in both red and white, and several Châteauneuf-du-Papes. The Première Pierre is the classic cuvée (75% Grenache with Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault), and there’s also the fun and eclectic Clos No 18, which includes all 18 permitted varieties… it’s never my favorite but always fun to taste. The two flagship cuvées are the Mon Aïeul (100% Grenache from Les Serres, Guigasse, and La Crau, vinified with whole clusters and aged in neutral demi-muids) and the Reserve des Deux Frères (100% Grenache from old vines, aged entirely in new barrels). These are two brilliant yet dramatically different expressions of Grenache. The 2023s are spectacular, with both the Mon Aïeul and Reserve reminding me slightly of the domaine’s 2006s (which are brilliant). The family opted not to produce their Reserve des Deux Frères cuvée in 2024, yet certainly the Mon Aïeul showed well.

— Jeb Dunnuck (10/6/2020)
© 2020 Jeb Dunnuck | Reprinted with Permission

Jeb Dunnuck (8/16/2019)

JEB DUNNUCK 2022

Gregory2025-11-20T11:42:32+01:00

2022 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf Du Pape Clos Pierre Usseglio n°18

A novelty experiment that includes all of the 18 permitted varieties (half of which are white) raised in amphora, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Clos Pierre 18 sports a light, translucent ruby/rose hue as well as a spicy nose of redcurrants, subtle cherry, and peppery herbs. Medium-bodied, charming, and elegant, it’s more interesting than pleasurable, and I suspect it’s best drunk in its youth.

— Jeb Dunnuck (10/6/2020)
© 2020 Jeb Dunnuck | Reprinted with Permission

Jeb Dunnuck (8/16/2019)

JEB DUNNUCK 2021

Gregory2025-11-20T14:20:40+01:00

2021 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf Du Pape Clos Pierre Usseglio n°18

Lots of red cherries, cured meats, leather, and savory, Provençal garrigue-like notes all emerge from the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Clos Pierre 18, a tiny production cuvée that’s a blend of every permitted grape variety in the appellation, red and white. It’s light ruby, almost rose-hued, has medium-bodied richness, and an elegant, pretty, forward style best drunk in its youth.

Jeb Dunnuck 2021

JEB DUNNUCK 2020

Gregory2025-11-20T11:39:37+01:00

2020 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf Du Pape Clos Pierre Usseglio

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Clos N18 is an eclectic blend of all the varieties (red and white) that are permitted in the appellation, fermented all together (they used a cold room to keep the early ripening varieties), destemmed and brought up all in amphora. Its translucent ruby hue is followed by a savory, complex nose of mulled red and black fruits, new leather, dried garrigue, forest floor, and wood smoke. It’s medium-bodied, refined, and finesse-driven, with supple tannins and a juicy, easygoing, incredibly balanced Pinot Noir-like style that I suspect will also evolve for 7-8 years, possibly longer.
One of the leading estates in Châteauneuf du Pape is unquestionably Domaine Pierre Usseglio, which is run by Thierry and Jean-Pierre Usseglio, with the next generation of Gregory Usseglio now working full-time with the estate as well. The lineup has shifted slightly over the years, with their Côtes du Rhône being replaced by the L’Unique label, which is released as a Vin de France. They produce a terrific Lirac, both red and white. Looking at the Châteauneuf du Pape releases, the classic red and white are now released under the label Premiere Pierre, and they’ve added the new Clos Pierre Usseglio 18 Cépages, which includes all 18 of the permitted grape varieties, red and white. The Cuvée Mon Aïeul and Reserve des Deux Freres remain unchanged and are two brilliant, yet dramatically different, expressions of Grenache.

— Jeb Dunnuck (10/6/2020)
© 2020 Jeb Dunnuck | Reprinted with Permission

Jeb Dunnuck (8/16/2019)

JEB DUNNUCK 2019

Gregory2025-11-20T11:37:51+01:00

2019 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf Du Pape Clos Pierre Usseglio

The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Clos Pierre Usseglio comes from a single parcel planted to all permitted varieties (red and white) and it’s always a singular, incredibly interesting wine. Bottled in April of this year, it has complex, almost old-school notes of pepper, leather, dried garrigue, cherries and mulled currants to go with medium-bodied richness and depth on the palate. The tannins are supple and polished, and it has considerable freshness as well as a great finish. It should last for a decade.

Jeb Dunnuck (8/16/2019)

JEB DUNNUCK 2018

Gregory2025-11-20T11:30:14+01:00

2018 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf Du Pape Clos Pierre Usseglio

Lastly, I was able to taste the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Clos Pierre Usseglio, which like the 2019 is a mix of 5% each of all the permitted varieties brought up in amphora. Revealing a lighter ruby hue as well as an ethereal bouquet of cherries, strawberries, rose petals, and spice, this medium-bodied, soft, supple, yet endearing and elegant 2018 is best drunk over the coming 7-8 years or so.

Jeb Dunnuck (8/16/2019)