2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Pierre Usseglio "Reserve des Deux Freres" (Pre-Arrival)

98-100 points Robert Parker: "There are 4,000 bottles of the 2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Deux Freres (which sports a new label). Another monumental example of Châteauneuf, this 100% Grenache reveals no evidence of makeup. It is about as natural an expression of old vine Grenache as one can find. Gorgeously long, blackberry, cassis, seaweed, licorice, cherry, and lavender scents explode from the glass. In the mouth, the wine is even fuller, richer, and denser than the Mon Aieul, and exhibits more tannin as well as a phenomenal finish that lasts over a minute. This is a prodigious wine of extraordinary singularity and intensity. It should evolve for 30+ years." (10/08) 95-97 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Glass-staining ruby. A captivating bouquet evokes black and blue fruits with strong floral and spice accents. Lush, creamy and palate-coating, with sweet blackcurrant and boysenberry flavors, fully absorbed tannins and alluring spiciness. Tangy minerality adds bite and clarity to the finish, which is shockingly lithe for a wine with such palate impact. 'This would be more Sophia Loren than Catherine Deneuve,' says Usseglio.'" (Jan/Feb '09) ETA for this wine is late spring 2010.