Domaine Pierre Usseglio et Fils

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The Domaine Pierre Usseglio et Fils is another essential institution in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. If the Domaine du Pégau shines with its wild classicism, Pierre Usseglio embodies the perfect alliance between respect for Rhone traditions and an absolutely delicious reading, characterized by velvet textures and masterful fruity opulence.

Italian roots at the top of the Rhône

The story begins between the two world wars when Francis Usseglio, originally from Italy, left his country to settle in Châteauneuf-du-Pape as a vineyard worker. A hard worker, he managed to buy his first vines and produced his first vintage in 1949.

His son, Pierre, took up the torch, expanded it, and gave his name to the domaine. Today, the farm covers nearly 40 hectares (25 of which are in Châteauneuf-du-Pape) is run by the third generation, the two brothers Thierry and Jean-Pierre Ussegliojoined by the next generation, Gregory Usseglio.

An exceptional heritage of Vieilles Vignes

The secret to the depth of Usseglio wines lies in the age of its vineyards. domaine is fortunate to possess a huge proportion of very vieilles vignes Grenache (aged from 65 to over 100 years old), spread across exceptional terroirs such as the famous terrace of rolled pebbles of La Crau, but also the sandy areas of Guigasse And The Greenhouses.

These vieilles vignes naturally produce very small yields, but berries with an exceptionally high phenolic concentration.

The Usseglio Style: Power in a velvet glove

In the cellar, the Usseglio brothers practice partial destemming depending on the cuvée and vintage. The wines are aged according to tradition, a large portion in concrete tanks and demi-muids (large 600-liter barrels), in order to preserve the vibrant purity of the fruit.

Usseglio wines are recognizable by their aromatic generosity and especially to their silky materialThese are full-bodied wines, extremely delicious even when young, but with a depth and balance that allows them to age for decades in the cellar.

A range of haute couture vintages

THE domaine It is distinguished by its classic vintage but especially by two single-vineyard vintages of worldwide renown:

  • Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Première Pierre" (formerly Cuvée Tradition): The DNA of domaine. A blend dominated by Grenache (75-80%), complemented by Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault. It's an intense wine, bursting with ripe red fruit (black cherry), pepper, and garrigue aromas, with incredibly well-integrated tannins.

  • "My Ancestor" vintage: A masterpiece. This vintage is a 100% Grenache Made exclusively from century-old vines planted in sandy and pebbly soils. Vinified without destemming and aged in vats and demi-muids, it offers a taffeta-like texture, an explosion of wild raspberry, licorice, and sweet spices. It regularly receives stratospheric scores from critics.

  • The "Two Brothers Reserve": The more modern and opulent counterpart. Also a very fine 100% Grenache. vieilles vignes, but which benefits from aging in oak barrels. It is a creamy colossus, of monumental concentration, made for very long aging (note that the brothers prefer not to produce it in years when the vintage is not suitable).

  • THE Clos No. 18: An original and confidential vintage bringing together the 18 grape varieties and variants authorized by the appellation in a single bottle.

 

The Usseglio family also produces a fantastic Lirac (a neighboring AOC) and a Vin de France baptized "The Unique One", which offers a wonderful, low-cost entry point to understanding the expertise of this great family.