The tradition of winemaking in Stéphane Usseglio’s family goes back to his grandfather, Francis, who moved to Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Italy in 1931 and created what is now Domaine Pierre Usseglio. Stéphane’s father, Raymond, founded his own estate in 1964, and Stéphane took charge in 2004.
When a winemaker dares to defy the French wine 'rule book', it can spark some drama—and give birth to a great bargain like Stéphane Usseglio’s superb Les Amandiers Vin de France Rouge.
Richer than a Côtes-du-Rhône, this is a stunning value from a family whose name is synonymous with excellence in Châteauneuf, where they’ve been making top-tier wines for 75 years. This wine is crafted from 100% organically certified estate fruit—mostly Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre—grown chiefly in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and family sites in Lirac and the Côtes-du-Rhône.
If the story ended there, this wine would qualify as a straightforward Côtes-du-Rhône. But winemaker Stéphane Usseglio went rogue by tapping one of the family’s plots outside the Côtes-du-Rhône and also adding a tiny bit of supple Merlot to the blend. That’s why this bottle bears a vin de France label. And to throw off convention completely, the wine is not vintage-labeled, although 100% of it came from 2021.
Deep ruby in appearance, with brooding purple and blue near the concentrated center. Intense aromas of black and red berries, along with rich tones of thyme, primrose, and baking spices. Well-integrated tannins are balanced by lively acidity on the palate. Flavors of black raspberry, fresh strawberries, and deep spice notes persist sip after sip. Drink now–2027.
