2003 Domaine Pierre Usseglio, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, de Mon Aieul

The best bottle of this I've had (and I've had plenty), Usseglio's 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul is a blockbuster and one of the true stars of this vintage. Almost all Grenache (there's a small part of Syrah and Cinsault) that was harvest between September 1-13, partially destemmed and aged in both tank and foudre, this massive, voluptuous effort is almost overflowing with notes of ground herbs, chocolate dusted meats, black fruits and licorice. Showing none of the negative traits of the vintage, with beautiful purity and freshness, sweet tannin, and a great finish, enjoy this utterly hedonistic beauty over the coming 4-5 years.

eRobertParker.com June, 2013 Deep, layered and rich, the 2003 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de mon Aieul is comprised almost all of Grenache and always comes from three lieux-dits: La Crau, Guigasse and Les Serres. Aged all in tank and showing none of the negative traits of the vintage, it has a rich, meaty bouquet of semi-mature red and black fruits, wild herbs, melted licorice, dusty minerality and roasted beef. Full-bodied, gorgeously pure and seamless, with solid underlying structure and a core of sweet fruit, it is a brilliant wine. I don’t see any upside to holding bottles, yet given the balance, richness and mid-palate depth, it should continue to hold for another 5-8 years and certainly drink nicely well past that. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 23/02/2006 One of the vintage’s most profound wines, the 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul has a dense purple color as well as a glorious nose of blackberries, licorice, smoke, and some roasted meats and dried herbs. Amazingly opulent, even voluptuous, with extraordinary purity, a huge tactile impression on the palate, but not heavy by any means, this is a stunning Chateauneuf du Pape from ancient vines made with 95% Grenache and the rest Cinsault and Syrah. Production is about 8,000 bottles, and the wine is bottled after spending its entire life in epoxy-lined tanks, so what one gets is the essence of the three separate terroirs it comes from – Les Serres, Guigasse, and La Crau. Anticipated maturity: now-2020+. I asked the Usseglios what the most abundant years were over the last decade, and was told they were 2000, followed by 1999, 1998, 2001, 2003, and the smallest crop of all, 2004. One of the vintage's most profound wines, the 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul has a dense purple color as well as a glorious nose of blackberries, licorice, smoke, and some roasted meats and dried herbs. Amazingly opulent, even voluptuous, with extraordinary purity, a huge tactile impression on the palate, but not heavy by any means, this is a stunning Chateauneuf du Pape from ancient vines made with 95% Grenache and the rest Cinsault and Syrah. Production is about 8,000 bottles, and the wine is bottled after spending its entire life in epoxy-lined tanks, so what one gets is the essence of the three separate terroirs it comes from - Les Serres, Guigasse, and La Crau. Anticipated maturity: now-2020+. (97) (97)

Deep, bright, violet-tinged color. Powerful scents of kirsch, roasted coffee, bitter chocolate, bacon fat and candied violet. Fabulously rich and concentrated, with densely packed but pure and precise flavors of berries, plum, cherry cola, floral pastille and charred meat. This sees only 5% oak. Finishes ripe and thick, with very persistent roasted berry flavors.