WTN: Domaine Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape 2001

Mostly grenache, with some syrah, mourvedre, cinsault, counoise and muscardin. Medium deep ruby red color. Aroma of cherries, fresh cut flowers and some sweaty leather. Medium body and slightly hot, 14 % abv. Dark cherries, roasted plums, provencal herbs and liquorice. Slightly drying tannins. It will improve within a couple of years, although I don't believe this is a long term ager. Medium finish. Very nice, better with food.

At the risk of sounding dogmatic, I'll suggest that most CdPs should be left alone from years 5-8 after harvest as they traditionally shut down fairly hard. I've heard some talk recently that recent vintages don't seem to behave that way, and certainly your notes don't read like those of a dumb wine. Nonetheless, a few more years will probably do good things for this wine.

Mark Lipton

[Jenise]

Fernando, thanks for the note--I have a few of these in the cellar and haven't tried one yet. Notes like this help keep itchy fingers away.