USSEGLIO RAYMOND & FILS CHÂTEAUNEUF-du-PAPE les APÔTRES 2022

Importer's notes
"A unique Chateauneuf du Pape from an innovator in the style. Usseglio are specialists in Chateauneuf and this cuvee is unique partly because it combines a top selection of all 13 grape varieties allowed under this appellation — most of which are not required, so are rarely found in one cuvee. While this literal approach is unusual, Usseglio also deviate from tradition by giving these grapes a very long fermentation in clay amphorae. A Rhone red of incredible intensity and breadth, Les Apotres is a serious addition to the longer term cellar."

Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"A remarkably rare Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with production limited to only 3,000 bottles in certain vintages, those considered the most exceptional. This wine results from the assembly in amphorae of the 13 authorized grape varieties, both black and white, according to the strict specifications of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation.

The grapes are meticulously selected during weeks of harvesting across the entire vineyard to ensure optimal ripeness. The terroirs mainly consist of sandy soils or rolled pebbles. The grapes are hand-destemmed, berry by berry. The berries are then gently placed into Italian artisanal amphorae from TAVA, where black and white grapes are co-fermented. In the spirit of ancestral techniques, maceration takes place over a period of 3 months. Aging lasts for 17 months, always in amphorae. 

Wine exhibiting aromas of black fruits along with enchanting flavours of strawberries, rose, and Mediterranean scrubland. Explosion of juicy black fruits characterizing this deep and complex wine, while also being delicate and silky, leading to a finish marked by finesse and elegance."

96/100 Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com, Wine Advocate (2022 Vintage)
"The fifth iteration of this cuvée, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Apotres features a co-fermentation of the 13 authorized varieties that undergo a lengthy 120-day maceration. It reveals a dense, vibrant bouquet of cassis, mulberries, dark cherries, licorice, lead pencil, tapenade, garrigue and spices. Full-bodied, dense and rich with an enveloping texture, it's seamless and perfectly balanced with a sappy, fleshy core of fruit that segues into a dense, long and endless finish, establishing its preeminence among the domaine’s offerings. This is a cuvée that invariably benefits from extended cellaring. Drink 2034 – 2054."

95/100 Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous (2022 Vintage)
"The pinnacle of the winery’s offerings is the Apôtres, which has been produced only in select years. The 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Apôtres is a stunner. This is only the fourth time Stéphane Usseglio made this cuvée, a co-fermentation of 13 different grapes with amphora-aging. Three months of skin contact post fermentation resulted in concentrated red and black fruits, crushed violets, licorice and pencil shaving traces. The 2022 Apôtres stands out for its concentration and complexity, balanced by exceptional tension. Despite all the substance, the 2022 is surprisingly agile and bursts with energy and freshness. A savoury and elongated finish rounds it all up. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink 2026-2042."

95/100 Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com (2022 Vintage)
"As refined as it is deep, this is a remarkable expression of Chateauneuf in which the ample tannins are enveloped in a wealth of red fruit and spices. The super-long, velvety finish pulls you inexorably back for more. Limited production. A cuvee of all 13 grape varieties allowed in this appellation from biodynamically grown grapes. Macerated on the skins in amphorae for two months and bottled unfiltered. Drink or hold."