One of the finest 2008 Chateauneuf du Papes money can buy is Pierre Usseglio’s offering (the only 2008 they made). Composed of 80% Grenache and the rest Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault, it possesses a dark ruby/purple color, surprisingly intense fruit, lots of garrigue, pepper and spice box, a medium to full-bodied texture and a heady finish. Performing better out of bottle than it did last year in the cellars, it should be consumed during its first 5-6 years of life. Restaurants take note! One of my favorite stops on my trips to the southern Rhone is at Domaine Pierre Usseglio where brothers Jean-Pierre and Thierry Usseglio have accomplished special things. A new state-of-the-art tasting room has been added, somewhat unusual in Chateauneuf du Pape where little has changed in the three decades I have been tasting there. However, the small, discrete Usseglio tasting room would never be compared with tasting rooms that exist in Bordeaux and California. Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173

One of the finest 2008 Chateauneuf du Papes money can buy is Pierre Usseglio’s offering (the only 2008 they made). Composed of 80% Grenache and the rest Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault, it possesses a dark ruby/purple color, surprisingly intense fruit, lots of garrigue, pepper and spice box, a medium to full-bodied texture and a heady finish. Performing better out of bottle than it did last year in the cellars, it should be consumed during its first 5-6 years of life. Restaurants take note! One of my favorite stops on my trips to the southern Rhone is at Domaine Pierre Usseglio where brothers Jean-Pierre and Thierry Usseglio have accomplished special things. A new state-of-the-art tasting room has been added, somewhat unusual in Chateauneuf du Pape where little has changed in the three decades I have been tasting there. However, the small, discrete Usseglio tasting room would never be compared with tasting rooms that exist in Bordeaux and California.Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173

Ripe but well-harnessed by fine-grained tobacco and roasted vanilla-tinged tannins, which carry the plum sauce, braised fig and mulled cherry notes along. There's a lingering licorice note on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 2,000 cases made. -JM

Juicy, with ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit laced with a black licorice note. A dash of incense lends a perfumy edge to the finish. Drink now. 400 cases made. -JM