Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils - Côtes du Rhône Les Claux rouge 2024
92/100
James Suckling
“Smooth and rich—here’s a prestigious Côtes-du-Rhône!”
This brilliantly crafted wine showcases the famous G-S-M grape variety trio (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre). The nose and palate are bursting with ripe red fruit, complemented by tannins that are remarkably fine and silky for a Côtes-du-Rhône. A spicy finish rounds out the experience.
Buy your Usseglio wines at the best price in a private sale!
Starting at €99 on your first order
Eye
Ruby-colored
Nose
Powerful and intense, with aromas of dark fruits (blackberries, blueberries) and spices (licorice)
Palate
Full-bodied and rich, with moderate structure, silky tannins, good length, and a fruity finish with notes of garrigue, licorice, and black pepper
Serve
At 16°C
Open
30 minutes before
Drink before
2032
Food and wine pairings
Enjoy it with a nice cut of beef, a rack of lamb roasted with thyme, stuffed zucchini, eggplant moussaka, or a selection of cheeses...
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2021 guide) 2*Stars (A solid, recommendable vintage, though slightly more consistent and uniform than the previous one)
About the estate:
A classic Châteauneuf estate, managed since 2004 by Stéphane, Raymond’s son, with vineyards scattered throughout the region, including very old Grenache vines in Pialons and Grand Pierre. The wines possess the power and structure one expects of them. The prestigious “Impériale” cuvée, aged partially in barrels, is made from these old Grenache vines.
Guide Hachette des vins
Rated estate (2024 guide) Award-winning wines (This producer’s wines are regularly recognized by the guide)
About the estate:
Through a series of purchases, Raymond Usseglio expanded the size of this Castelpapal estate—founded by his father Francis, who came from Italy in 1931 to work the land—to 33 hectares. Since 1999, the estate has been run by his only son, Stéphane. The estate has obtained organic and biodynamic certifications.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Rated estate (2023 guide) Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
About the estate:
Stephan Usseglio has propelled this certified organic and biodynamic estate, named after his father, into the ranks of the region’s finest. Furthermore, he has continued to experiment, trying out different aging and fermentation vessels, single-varietal wines, and blends outside the appellation’s boundaries to create innovative French wines that often offer exceptional value. As part of his efforts to reduce alcohol levels, he plants Clairette when he needs to replace a dead Grenache vine. “There’s 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 have frost—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 2021 vintage turned out very well. In 2022, he says, “we had a good winter, then it was very dry, with small berries. Thanks to the cool nights, the vines didn’t stop growing; we already had finesse by late August. Fermentation was quick, malolactic fermentation was quick [and] the wines are drinkable early, just like in 2007." If the wines truly turn out like those of 2007, the 2022 vintage could be one of the greatest, and not just for this estate.
James Suckling
Wine rated (2025 guide) 92/100 (2023 vintage)
Rated winery (2023 guide) Recommended
Jeb Dunnuck
Rated winery (2023 guide) Recommended
Discover more wines from the estate
