A new baby in the Raymond Usseglio portfolio is the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee des Anges, a blend of 60% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, and 20% Syrah from parcels he has planted on limestone and sandy soils. This is a meaty, black fruit-dominated wine with some smoky earthy root vegetables intermixed with plenty of cassis, blackberry, plum, and even a hint of fig. It is a more modern-styled wine by the standards of Usseglio, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some new barriques were thrown in here, although I didn’t really smell any oak. I just had the sense that this is a different animal than the other wines, but that could just be the very high percentage of Mourvedre. In any event, this looks set for a long life, and should age nicely for 20-25+ years.This staunch traditionalist, who ages everything in old barrels for 16 to 18 months, has turned out absolutely sensational 2007s, and his 2006s are certainly among the strongest wines of the vintage.Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800