Stéphane Usseglio's entry-level Chateauneuf is the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape, about 80% Grenache, blended from several terroirs and raised almost exclusively in tank. It features red raspberries and gentle herbal undertones on the nose, while being full-bodied, soft, creamy and plush in the mouth. It finishes silky and easy, but with a slightly bitter note. Tasted blind.

Cherry and pomegranate fruit are joined by hints of asphalt and cracked pepper on the nose of Usseglio's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape. It's spicy and savory overall, with a silky feel to the medium to full-bodied palate. Not overly concentrated, it's nevertheless nicely balanced, with the delicious tension of just-ripe fruit and a bright, lingering finish.

The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape is more red fruited than the 2018, with cherries and raspberries leading the way. It's full-bodied and concentrated, perhaps a bit more tannic and not as easy to drink right now, but well done, with hints of garrigue adding nuance to the long finish.

Lacking the concentrated richness of the 2015, Usseglio's 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape is nevertheless a solid effort, boasting a blend of cherry and cola notes that would make Dr. Pepper proud. Full-bodied and velvety, it picks up hints of licorice on the finish.