Notes:

A wine that’s going to challenge the 2007 and 2010 as the greatest vintage to date, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de Mon Aïeul is an off the charts Grenache that packs a huge nose of black raspberries, spice, licorice and crushed flowers. Tasting like the essence of this hallowed terroir, with full-bodied richness, building, sweet tannin, no hard edges and a huge finish, don’t miss it! This estate hasn’t missed a beat in the past decade (or more) and their 2015s and 2016s both check-in near the top of the pyramid. It’s worth noting that this estate has started including slightly more stems than in the past while pulling back on the new barrels. Nevertheless, this is one estate who’s wines handle their oak elevage beautifully. They’ve also created a new white special cuvee based on Grenache Blanc and Clairette, and it’s a terrific wine worth seeking out (although I don’t know the price point).  Jeb Dunnuck 98-100

  Wow, the sample I tasted of the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul was enormous. The blackberry fruit is intense and powerful yet retains a sense of elegance despite a touch of warmth on the finish. Thierry Usseglio, representing the third generation of Usseglios in Châteauneuf du Pape, always seems to have a smile on his face. And why not? The top wines consistently sell well, and even his lowly Vin de France is a tasty drop. Maybe his thoughts on 2016 have something else to do with his grin. As we tasted through the lineup of barrel and tank samples, he said, "In Châteauneuf du Pape, 2016 is an extraordinary vintage. I've been doing this since '92 and never seen anything like it." Wine Advocate 94-96

Deep vivid red. Spice-accented raspberry and cherry scents are complicated by hints of allspice, pungent flowers and smoky minerals. Sweet and seamless in texture, offering energetic red and dark berry and candied lavender flavors, along with suggestions of smoky minerals and licorice. Concentrated but vibrant and precise in style, delivering superb finishing thrust, fine-grained tannins and excellent, floral-driven persistence. Vinous Media 93-95