Pierre Usseglio Tasting Class 2/11 Instructed by winemaker Gregory Usseglio - Sea Cliff, NY (Long Island)

Joseph_Grassa · February 9, 2026, 12:30pm

I know this is last second. I originally intended to post this here, but the class sold out quickly. 3 seats opened up yesterday. Not fun being the retailer when that happens with 72 hours left to refill the seats!

Who: Gregory Usseglio, the current winemaker at Pierre Usseglio in Southern Rhone will be instructing the class.

What: $94+ tax per seat. 90 min intimate educational class with 11 or less people at the table. Class includes tasting 8 wines (listed below), some food (not a meal, not just cheese and crackers). All wines are discounted 10% for the night and 15% on mixed cases.

Where:
Village Wine Merchant
252A Sea Cliff Avenue
Sea Cliff, NY 11579
(4 min uber from Sea Cliff LIRR)

When: Wednesday 2/11/26; 7pm

Why: I have personally been a huge fan of the wines of Pierre Usseglio for some time now. The wines still show elegance, at a time where that is becoming more and more difficult in CdP. Mon Aieul for me has remained at the level of Beaucastel’s and Pegau’s CdPs, but with less power, more elegance. More importantly, as I think many can appreciate on wineberserkers, education is what I find to be the key in wine. The average wine consumer is drinking barefoot, simply because they do not know any better. I speak with people who think they are sophisticated wine drinkers, while their drink of choice is Caymus. My goal is to educate people on wine, so the vast number of farmers, and winemakers scattered around the world can get paid for doing the marvelous things that make us wineberserkers tick.

Lineup:
$29.99 - 2021 Lirac Blanc
$49.99 - 2023 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
$19.99 - 2022 L’Unique
$29.99 - 2021 Lirac
$49.99 - 2022 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Cuvee Premiere Pierre’
$89.99 - 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul
$139.99 - 2020 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Deux Freres
NA - 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul (Thanks to @k_s_h_i_n at Winovisor, as I am running incredibly low on older Mon Aiuel and he had some solid inventory for sale!)

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Joseph_Grassa · February 9, 2026, 2:49pm

2 Seats left

Joseph_Grassa · February 9, 2026, 4:28pm

1 seat left

Joseph_Grassa · February 9, 2026, 6:26pm

Sold Out!

Joseph_Grassa · February 13, 2026, 3:24am

Amazing meeting Gregory Usseglio. Based on his recommendation we put the Reserve des Deux Freres last after the 2 vintages of Mon Aieul. It was a good decision!

Rest of the food that’s not so visible was Sausage and Peppers, as well as Focaccia (Tomatos, Onions, Rosemary…)

Mike_Cohen · February 13, 2026, 2:38pm

Well done! Looks like a great time. I wish my LWS had similar events.

gavin.f · February 14, 2026, 2:14am

Hear hear!

What are the high level take aways. I’ve had some of his wines, but not enough to form a cohesive picture.

Joseph_Grassa · February 14, 2026, 3:36am

They are doing a phenomenal job while others are struggling to keep their wines fresh in the Southern Rhone.

The WOTN was as expected, the 2000 Mon Aieul. I grabbed a few more of those, and will enjoy them over the next few years. Still red fruited, with garrigue, tobacco… Lovely wine, but not likely to improve.

Mon Aieul is 100% Grenache. The 2020 was excellent and may have been my 2nd favorite of the night. Great now, (not the first bottle I have had), but I am laying the rest down for about a decade I think.

As for the 2020 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Deux Freres much more noticeable wood, which is what they are going for, but it already adds so much more in notes of cedar, and cigar box, without being pushing too much vanilla. They use 4-5 different types of barrels for this if I understand correctly, and I am very excited to see how this is in another 5+ years.

This was my first time having the whites, and they were both excellent. Sadly, and not so sadly, we sold out of them, so I didn’t get to take any home!

The blend in the CdP Blanc is something like 50% Clairette Blanche, 20% Clairette Rose, 25% Grenache blanc and 5% Bourboulenc. Body is there, but at the same time this stays fresh, I think due to the Grenache Blanc, and partial aging in steel. Also 20% Amphorae.

I am struggling with current CdP. Worried they won’t age, and finding many too damn big. That was not the case for any of these wines even with pretty high ABV in some of them. It was never noticeable. Very happy with the wines, and a chance to speak with Gregory.