2019 Southern Rhône Valley Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tasting Lot Horizontal

“Quite different than the base cuvée (which isn’t always the case), the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Girard is a special blend that usually includes more Mourvèdre. Lots of red and black fruits, peppery garrigue, and spice dominate the bouquet, and this beauty is medium to full-bodied and brings lots of fruit and richness, yet it stays balanced, light on its feet, and a joy to drink. Drink it over the coming 15+ years.” (11/2021)

“Sleek and ripe, with a lovely beam of kirsch, raspberry pâte de fruit and red licorice notes streaming through, plus subtle floral and savory hints along the way. Solid finish, with sweet tobacco and spice elements. Best from 2023 through 2034.” (04/2022)

“Very full-bodied, concentrated but not overextracted, with considerable grip. Powerful wine, very Châteauneuf. Well balanced for a punchy style, it's retained its freshness and energy. Unfiltered. 80% Grenache; 20% Mourvèdre, Syrah, Counoise and Cinsault. Drinking Window 2022 - 2026. (MW)” (10/2020)

“Bright ruby. Fragrant red berry, cherry pit and lavender aromas are sharpened by smoky mineral and cracked pepper notes. Sappy and pliant in texture, offering ripe, spice-tinged raspberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that show very good depth as well as vivacity. Finishes smoky and precise, displaying gentle tannic grip and building florality.(JR)” (10/2021)

“Domaine Pierre Usseglio was founded in 1948 by Francis Usseglio, who had left Italy to work in the Châteauneuf-du Pape vineyards. Today the domaine owns 39ha of vines, of which 24ha are devoted to the red Châteauneuf. Grapes are harvested and selected manually with yields as low as 20-25hl/ha according to vintage conditions, mostly destemmed then fermented separately, and the wine is aged 12 months, half in oak foudre and half in concrete tank. Matt Walls: There is oak behind the lively, fresh fruit. Very fine, well balanced, fruity and easy to love, with great concentration and length. Will be very good in time – the balance, freshness, ripeness is all there. Long finish. Tanguy Martin: Nose is intense and toasty, generous on the palate with a great concentration and a savoury finish. David Round: Open, attractive, complex nose, cinnamon, strawberry and cocoa. Fleshy, opulent and pure, multi-layered core of fruit. (Panel Tasting)” (02/2022)

“Mostly Grenache yet with 15% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, with 10% Cinsault, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape boasts a vivid purple hue as well as a complex bouquet of red, blue, and black fruits as well as notes of flowers, spice, and peppery garrigue. It actually reminds me of the Cuvée Mon Aïeul with its ripe yet elegant profile. Full-bodied, balanced, and lengthy, it’s going to offer loads of pleasure over the coming 10-15 years.” (11/2021)

“A blend sourced from numerous sites across the appellation, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape is full-bodied and plush, loaded with notes of asphalt, blackberries and black olives. Plush and easy to drink, this blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault may be consumed young or aged up to a decade. (JC)” (05/2022)

“Brilliant violet. Expressive aromas of ripe red and blue fruit and candied flowers are complemented by a spicy nuance that builds in the glass. Smooth and seamless in texture, offering sappy black raspberry and cherry cola flavors energized by a late, spicy snap of white pepper. Finishes sweet, subtly tannic and long, leaving floral and red berry notes behind. (JR)” (08/2021)

“Soft, supple layers of strawberry and raspberry preserves are laced with a salty, earthen streak of minerality in this bright, fresh-fruited Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It's an immediately welcoming wine framed by fine, pillowy tannins and a lingering crush of pink peppercorn. AI)” (05/2022)

“Juicy and direct, with bright cassis and cherry compote notes and red licorice and sweet tobacco flavors. Offers a flash of garrigue that keeps it honest through the finish, with good energy adding length. Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. (JM)” (12/2021)

“One smoking good bottle of wine, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape is 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and the rest Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Counoise that was brought up mostly in concrete tanks. It’s as drinkable and delicious as they come, offering lots of red and black fruits, dried garrigue, and spice aromatics, medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannins, and wonderful balance. It’s Provence in a bottle. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.” (11/2021)

“Plenty of blackberries, but also licorice, smoke and floral notes make this a ravishing Chateauneuf. Rich and elegant with a serious structure, but also something playful, this wine is already a joy to drink. Long, spicy and black-tea finish with so much energy. A blend of 50% grenache, 25% syrah, 15% mourvedre and 15% cinsault. Drink or hold.” (02/2022)

“Ripe and juicy, with a nice compact feel to the mix of raspberry compote, red licorice and red currant preserve flavors. Subtle garrigue hints dot the finish and there's a nice tarry streak as well. Needs just a touch of cellaring to coax it out fully. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Best from 2024 through 2034. (JM)” (02/2022)

“Deep ruby-red. Expressive red berry and cherry aromas are complemented by building spice and licorice accents. Gently sweet and broad in the mouth, offering lively black raspberry, cherry liqueur and baking spice flavors that show no rough edges. Closes supple and long, with repeating floral and spice notes and gentle tannins that lend shape and final grip. (JR)” (08/2021)