Visit to Domaine Pegau

Laurence and Didier did an excellent job of hosting us. This is a very traditional producer which has a reputation from not shying away from the funky side of CdP. Beautiful wines.

• 2012 Château Pégau Côtes du Rhône Blanc Cuvée Lône - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
  Quite a typical and ordinary CdR Blanc. Clean nose of Lemon Rind and White Flowers. Good acid and a straightforward palate with a moderately short finish. (86 pts.)
• 2011 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  Heady, alcoholic nose. Honey, nectarine fairly complex. Simple palate, with a moderate finish. Didn't wow me but is very drinkable. (89 pts.)
• 2012 Château Pégau Pink Pégau - France, Vin de France
  Nose of rose water, grapefruit. Palate is fairly fat and viscus which leads to lower perceived acid. I have preferred other examples from Provence. (88 pts.)
• N.V. Plan Pégau Vin de Table Français Lot 2010 - France, Vin de Table Français
  Nice and inexpensive wine that brings the Pegau funk. A somewhat Bandaidy example actually, with plenty of dark fruit. Decent length on this too carried on a funky kinky finish. Really liked this and will pick up some at home. Hopefully it is consistent. (89 pts.)
• 2012 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  (Barrel Sample). This is not for me. I'm wondering; is it a bad year for Pegau, a non-repersentative sample, or just not ready maturing yet? Nose is very confected, clean, and candied. Super ripe strawberries dominate. No funk at all. Palate comes across as sweet. I would be curious to retry one day.
• 2011 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  Ahh much better. Very nicely done. Nose is very smokey, with pipe tobacco and plenty of fruit via cherry and spice. Long rustic finish of old wood and tobacco. Could easily come around and improve with time. (92 pts.)
• 2010 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  This was stunning. I was shocked at how open this wine was. Wildly complex. Soaring nose of cherries, cigar box, red licorice, Russian black tea. Typically rustic with chestnut, decaying leaf, tea leaf note. Long finish carried on plums, cherry, and cedar. An amazing wine that should get even better in the next 10 - 20 years. Managed to buy a bottle in the cave in CdP for a great price. (95 pts.)
• 2010 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée da Capo - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  First sample was oxidized. Second sample was a pop and pour. Really closed and ungiving. Hiding behind a ton of structure. Red fruited, you wouldn't guess this to be 15.8% alcohol, amazingly well hidden. Finish gives a strong sense of mineral ala graphite. Wait on this one. Palate indicates it should come around. Will it eclipse the stunning 2010 Cuvee Reservee? I have no clue, but I suppose it should.
• 2009 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  Nicely done, but certainly not my style. Much more fruit forward than the rest of the lineup. This cuvee spends longer in oak in order to soften it and make it more accessible. Not a collectors wine. Pleasant nose of bright pure red fruit; cherry, raspberry, strawberry. (91 pts.)