2019 Domaine Pierre Usseglio, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Not For You 1x75cl

Nicolas Greinacher

This single varietal Grenache Chateauneuf-du-Pape Not for You! cuvee happened more by accident than by plan. It was made for the first time in 2007, from the Les Serres plot. Thierry Usseglio and consulting winemaker Baptiste Olivier ended up with one particular barrique that contained over 17% alcohol after the fermentation finished. According to Usseglio, Josh Raynolds tasted it and then wrote down in his notes that this wine, because of its sheer concentration and intensity, is Not for You! . Usseglio loved this statement and spontaneously decided to name this particular cuvee following Josh s comment. He then made the wine in two more vintages: in 2010 and in 2016. Hence, the 2019 Not for You! Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the fourth rendition of this eccentric cuvee. Full-bodied and deep, it almost overloads the taster with its mindboggling intensity of cooked red and black fruits, dried herbs, cured meat and spice box before it eventually concludes with a bold finish that goes on for well over a minute. Only 1,500 bottles produced.