Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils - Les Apôtres 2019
97/100
Jeb Dunnuck
93/100
Robert Parker
2*Étoiles
Hachette
93/100
Wine Spectator
93/100
James Suckling
A relatively recent cuvée that encompasses all the authorized grape varieties of the appellation and is aged in amphorae, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Apôtres 2019 offers a beautiful bouquet of black raspberry and blackberry intertwined with many aromas and flavors of spring flowers, white truffle, spices, and dried garrigue. This marvel is harmonious, medium-bodied to full-bodied, and I would wager thatthis is the best vintage of this cuvée to date." (Jeb Dunnuck 2020)
Buy your Usseglio wines at the best price in a private sale!
from €99 on your first order
Eye
Purplish color with deep highlights
Nose
Deep and complex, with notes of wild blackberries, black cherries, cardamom, and powdered rose, hints of graphite and Sichuan pepper.
Mouth
Concentrated, with velvety tannins, great purity, long finish with fresh fruit, sweet licorice, balsamic notes
Serve
At 16-18°C
Open
Decant 1 hour before serving
Drink before
2029
Food and wine pairings
Best enjoyed with hearty dishes served in sauce, such as gardiane (beef stew with peppers) or beef with anchovies, to stay true to the region's culinary traditions...
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2021 guide) 2 stars (A serious and recommendable production, but a little more consistent and uniform than the previous one)
About the estate:
A classic Châteauneuf estate, taken over in 2004 by Stéphane, Raymond's son, with vines scattered throughout the region, including very old Grenache vines in Pialons and Grand Pierre. The wines have the power and length on the palate that one would expect. The prestigious Imperial cuvée, a small portion of which is aged in barrels, is produced from old Grenache vines.
Guide Hachette des vins
Wine rating (2023 guide) 2 stars (Outstanding wine)
Rated estate (2024 guide) Award-winning wines (This producer's wines are regularly awarded by the guide)
About wine:
A label depicting the Last Supper, with Jesus symbolizing Grenache, surrounded by his 12 apostles, the same number as the "ancillary" grape varieties of Châteauneuf. The grapes are co-fermented then macerated in amphorae for four months, before being aged for 18 months, again in amphorae. In the glass, this wine is rather reticent on the nose but more expressive on the palate, with ample fruitiness of ripe cherry tinged with sweet spices, rich, mellow tannins and a smooth finish full of freshness. A masterful piece of work.
About the estate:
Successive purchases enabled Raymond Usseglio to expand the area of this Castelpapal estate, established by his father Francis, who came from Italy in 1931 to work the land, to 33 hectares. Since 1999, his only son, Stéphane, has taken over the running of the estate. Organic and biodynamic certifications have been obtained.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Wine rating (2022 guide) 93/100 (Outstanding wine)
Rated estate (2023 guide) Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
About wine:
An extremely diverse blend of grape varieties—Grenache makes up the majority [...] macerated for four months on the skins in amphorae, then aged in amphorae for a further 18 months, Châteauneuf du Pape Les Apôtres 2019 offers unique aromas of asphalt, mocha, celery seeds, red raspberries, and cherries. It is medium-bodied to full-bodied, tight and structured, but not harsh or even overly firm, with a well-defined profile on the palate and a long finish. Tasted blind.
About the estate:
Stephan Usseglio has propelled this certified organic and biodynamic estate, named after his father, to the top of the region. In addition, he has continued to experiment, trying different aging and fermentation tanks, single-varietal cuvées, and blends outside the appellation's boundaries to create innovative French wines that often offer considerable value. As part of his efforts to reduce alcohol levels, he plants Clairette when he has to replace a dead Grenache vine. "There are one or two degrees [of potential alcohol] less at harvest," explains Mr. Usseglio. The quality of the white wines has improved over recent vintages and has become one of the estate's priorities, with white wines now accounting for 25% of production. There are limited-production, high-end versions of pure Clairette and Roussanne, but the blended cuvée, which is also excellent, should not be overlooked. In 2021, Mr. Usseglio said, "We were lucky not to be frozen—only five hectares out of 25 were affected." Of course, he and his harvesters had to dodge the same raindrops as everyone else during the harvest, but his 2021s turned out very well. In 2022, he says, "we had a good winter, then it was very dry, with small berries. With the cool nights, the vines didn't stop growing, and we already had finesse at the end of August. Fermentation was rapid, malolactic fermentation was rapid [and] the wines are accessible early, as in 2007." If the wines really turn out to be like those of 2007, the 2022 vintage could be one of the greatest, and not just for this estate.
Wine Spectator
Wine rated 93/100 (Exceptional wine)
James Suckling
Wine rated (2022 guide) 93/100
Rated estate (2023 guide) Recommended
Jeb Dunnuck
Wine rated (2020 guide) 97/100
Rated estate (2023 guide) Recommended
About wine:
A relatively recent cuvée that encompasses all the authorized grape varieties of the appellation and is aged in amphorae, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Apôtres 2019 offers a beautiful bouquet of black raspberry and blackberry intertwined with aromas and flavors of spring flowers, white truffle, spices, and dried garrigue. This marvel is harmonious, medium-bodied to full-bodied, and I would venture to say that it is the best vintage of this cuvée to date.