A bit reticent at first, the nicely matured 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale (Vigne Centenaires) easily combines notes of fine leather, ripe cherries and dried spices. It's a comfortable, full-bodied wine that's drinking beautifully.

A candidate for perfection, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale Vignes Centenaire is clearly the greatest wine I have ever tasted from Raymond Usseglio, even eclipsing their remarkable 2007. Don’t be surprised if it merits a three-digit score in five or six years. Somewhat closed, but bursting with potential, the wine is inky/purple to the rim and boasts abundant amounts of concentrated, jammy blackberry, kirsch, licorice, lavender, forest floor, white chocolate and a hint of truffles in its magnificent perfume. Some tannins appear in the mouth, but there is no doubting the luxurious concentration, multidimensional mouthfeel, full-bodied texture, enormous extract and richness, and nearly endless finish. This monumental Chateauneuf du Pape needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and consumed over the following 2-3 decades. This classic winemaking estate, which employs the well-known Xavier Vignon as their consultant, owns over 45 acres spread throughout Chateauneuf du Pape, with the largest holdings in the north. Raymond Usseglio’s 2011s are very strong efforts. Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800

2010 年份的 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale-Vigne Centenaires（混合釀造成分與 2009 年份的酒相同）品質(zhì)驚人。此酒邊緣呈深紫色，伴有黑莓、黑櫻桃酒、甘草和薰衣草的香氣，非常特別。果香濃郁，酒體豐滿，單寧甜美，酸度適中，余味超過 60 秒。這款 2010 年份的酒酸度和單寧都偏高，需要窖藏 6 至 8 年，適宜在未來 25 至 30 年內(nèi)飲用。

Tasted at the property from magnum, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale (Vigne Centenaires) is stunning, and stunningly youthful. It's still floral, with scents of roses and tea accenting raspberry and cassis. Full-bodied, silky and long, this has everything—lush fruit, ample spicy complexity and a dry, savory finish. It has to be up there with the best wines of the vintage.

One of the top Chateauneuf du Papes of the vintage is the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale-Vigne Centenaires (from 100-year-old vines planted in pure sand). A blend of 90% Grenache and the rest Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Counoise, and Muscardin (a real field blend), this wine is close to rivaling their great 2007. Its stunning blue/purple color (remarkable for Grenache grown in sand) is followed by a full-bodied wine revealing exquisite concentrated notes of incense, lavender, camphor, black cherries and black currant liqueur. Tell-tale licorice and pepper characteristics are also present in this voluptuously textured, fleshy, full-bodied effort that is already drinkable. One of the stars of the vintage, it is capable of lasting 15-20 years. Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800