Raymond Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale 2020 (750ML)

96 JS / 95+ WA / 95 DE / 93+ JD / 16 JR

So deep and dark, yet with such vitality and energy, this is a great Chateauneuf that’s remarkably drinkable right now. I love the exotic touch (pomegranate and mangosteen) and, in spite of the density, this has a graceful finish that glides over our palate and off into the distance. A grenache-based blend from vines planted in 1901 and 1902. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. James Suckling

From a parcel of vines planted in 1902 (almost entirely Grenache but with a few other varieties sprinkled throughout), the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale is aromatically complex, with hints of piney, resinous herbs, rose petals, stone fruit, cherry and pomegranate. Full-bodied, the wine seems supple at first, but then tannins rise on the finish, turning it dry and dusty. Give it time. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes. Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate

Lovely sense of purity and clarity to the forest berry fruit, with a whiff of smoke emerging with air. Medium- to full-bodied style, plenty of fruit concentration, with expressive blueberry and blackberry muddled together. Long finish, ending neat and precise. This has a fair whack of fine tannin, so give it time. Soils are mostly sand in lieux-dits Farguerol nord and Pied Long. Fermented and aged in concrete. Matt Walls, Decanter

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Imperiale is another more lifted, perfumed, almost exotic wine, and while it’s certainly a terrific wine, it’s a step back from the all-time greats from this address. Red and black fruits, candied strawberries, Asian spices, and peppery notes give way to a medium to full-bodied Châteauneuf du Pape with good mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It’s young and a little gangly at the moment, so give bottles 3-4 years in the cellar. Jeb Dunnuck

Full, fleshy, rounded and succulent wine with some juicy fruit, strawberry and raspberry. Some heat on the finish. Bright acidity. A Châteauneuf with impeccable balance between ripeness, freshness and structure. Finishes with a mineral twang - Jancis Robinson