At Barrington’s. — 2 years ago
Smoky, meaty, and minty, good but needs lamb. — a year ago
One of Usseglio’s top cuvées, Mon Aïeul (“my granddad”) is 100% Grenache from some of the estate’s oldest vines (about 85 years of age) in La Crau, La Guigasse and Les Grandes Serres lieux-dits – each with a different type of soil.
Situated on an elevated plateau to the east of the village, La Crau is perhaps Châteauneuf’s most famous cru, known for its distinctive “galets roulés”, large, rounded river stones deposited here by the Rhône millions of years ago. To the south of the village, Les Grandes Serres is a very warm site on gravelly alluvial soils (and the source of the estate’s biggest wine, the 18% ABV “Not for You”). La Guigasse, on the other hand, is a cooler, sandier site with hardly any galets located on the northeastern part of the appellation, near the famous Pignan and Rayas lieux-dits (Chateau Rayas)
Mostly unoaked, it was brought up in concrete vats, with 15-20% in demi-muids. Ruby red color. Intensely perfumed, with notes of red and dark fruit (strawberry, raspberry), licorice and herbs. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and concentrated. Ripe fruit (cherry) and white pepper, smooth and creamy on the palate. Long, velvety, quite tannic finish. Hedonistic wine. — 2 years ago
2017: Well-rated, very good CDP that features darker stewed fruit flavors and a good amount of port and earth nuances. While it suffers a typical CDP lack of acidity and vibrancy at this stage the fruit concentration makes this an above-average bottling and complements the growing complexity. Good value at $52 (VR). — 7 months ago
I’m glad we still have Randall Grahm to make special wines like this because Lord knows the shitty US importer of Rayas, Pignan, Fonsallette and even Chateau des Tours has decided it’s easier to phone it in by selling out Reynaud Grenaches to the elite “swells” though private channels rather than making it available to less well-heeled wine lovers through normal retail. Fuck that shit. As for my take on this excellent wine, see my most recent note from August 2022 on this, but this is incrementally better and more complex and resolved after several more months’ rest. — 2 years ago
Ruby coloration. Notable transparency- can see through to the bottom of the glass. On the nose, dark cherry, anise, herbs, and some forest floor. On the palate, cherry, anise, very ripe cantaloupe, vanilla, and a long finish. Full body and nice, rich mouthfeel. Balanced tannins and acidity. $60 at B21. — 3 years ago
Wine club November — 4 years ago
Will Bean
🤯 🤯🤯 Difficult to find even when in the region it comes from, but, YES YES YES. Magic — 2 months ago