In Bond Fine Wine. 2015 Raymond Usseglio CDP Cuvee Imperiale, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France. Red Rhone in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 98/100 (JD). Drinking window: 2019–2035. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Joe Czerwinski (JC) — 94/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 31/10/2017 · Drink 2019-2025
The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale is a big, super ripe wine, loaded with plummy, chocolaty fruit. It's almost entirely Grenache from sandy sites, made and aged in concrete. At 16% alcohol by volume, it's full-bodied and the tannins are ripe, creamy and supple, but the alcoholic heat isn't particularly noticeable. Give the bit of green stemminess from some whole-cluster inclusion a year…
Jeb Dunnuck (JD) — 91–94/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 28/10/2016
What could end of up being a true blockbuster, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Imperiale is mostly Grenache, from primarily sandy soils, that was fermented with some whole clusters and aged all in concrete tanks. It offers notes of blueberries, blackberries, crushed pepper and liquid violets to go with a full-bodied, beautifully pure and silky style on the palate. It's a big wine at 16% natural alco…
Jeb Dunnuck (JD) — 98/100 · -, 19/10/2017
The 2015 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Imperiale is undeniably one of the big successes in the vintage. A blend of 95% Grenache and 5% other permitted varieties, partially destemmed and aged all in concrete, its deep ruby color is followed by awesome notes of blackberry jam, crushed rocks, graphite, and garrigue. A big, rich, unctuous wine, it has beautiful purity, integrated acidity, building tannin, and…