Description

This excellent estate was founded in 1948 and is now run by Pierre’s sons Jean-Pierre and Thierry along with the many younger Usseglio cousins being groomed for the future. They farm 24 acres in Chàteauneuf in some of the best plots with some vines with exceptional age.

The ’21 vintage sees a new label ‘Première Pierre’ after the original vines bought by brothers Jean-Pierre and Thierry Usseglio’s grandfather back in 1948. The textured label also highlights the four main soil types of their vineyards, sand, clay, limestone and rolled stones. The grapes, 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault and 5% Mourvedre are mostly destemmed and given a long cool maceration before being fermented and aged in the classic Rhône demi-muids, 600l barrels, and part in concrete tank. The aim is to prioritise the fruit over structure and the results are ethereal wines were the fruit just leaps from the glass. The 2021 has deep warm dark cherry fruit with complex spices soft tannins and plenty of length, drinking beautifully but will also keep well.