A Pegau vertical (and a Foreau)

We had a Shafer Hillside tasting planned for last night, but unfortunately on of my friends broke some ribs and so we postponed the event. Given the date was on the calendar and still a month away, I offered to host a Pegau CdP vertical. It had been a while and I had a nice selection in the cellar. A couple of others chipped in and it was on. As it turned out, it was the day of the Cleveland Cavaliers Championship parade. That meant I had been up since 6:00 am to compete with the other 1.3 million people heading into the city, and been drinking since 10:00 am. Nevertheless, we persevered. A quick 20 minute nap and we were on. It was a gorgeous day with the sun not setting until after 9:00pm, so we set up in my backyard and continued to drink until I kicked everyone left out at midnight.

The original wines were consumed blind (as was the white) over the course of the evening. Breads and cheeses were served. The later two wines were pop and pour and non blind and cigars were added to the mix.

A couple of starters. I had no white CdP in the cellar so put this in. Of course, blind, no one was thinking Chenin. That was unfair but everyone seemed to like it and was impressed with how well it is ageing.

• 2002 Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Demi-Sec 93 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Very nice showing for this. Really in a great place right now. Golden in color. The nose shows a nice crushed shell/salinity to go along with fresh and dried apricots. On the palate, this is ever so slightly oxidized (in a good way) with great minerality. Still some apricot fruit left. Complex. Well balanced. It has a perception of sweetness and a feeling of botrytis, but just barely sweet.

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• 2015 Château Pégau Pink Pégau 88 Points

  France, Vin de France

  Pink/orange in color. The nose has some cherries and also some spice. On the palate, this is simple yet refreshing. Good cherry fruit. Not complex, but really made a nice transition.

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The blind flight of Pegau

• 2005 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Purple in color. Relatively clean nose. Cedar, cherries, dark cherries and spice. Great texture. Still youthful. Nice cherries. Good finish. Not yet at peak.

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• 2003 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Perhaps it didn't live up to the hype (RP98) but it also wan't obvious as an 03. Perhaps at this point in its life, the vagaries of the vintage are not as blatant. Whether that is good or bad is up to you. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has dark cherries and spice. Clean. On the palate, layers of complexity. Plenty of fruit. Mild tannins. Seems to be getting to peak but a long life ahead.

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• 2004 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Purple/ruby in color. The nose has great nuances. Not as robust as some but then besides the cherry fruit, there is a green tobacco, spice and just the slightest hint of funk. Great acidity on the palate. Still quite young. Sinewy tannins. Pure cherry fruit on the palate with lots of depth. Persistent finish.

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• 2012 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Easy to guess this as the 12. Right now, it is a very hedonistic wine. Not as much complexity but that is to be expected. Purple in color. The nose shows black cherries and spice with some fresh cut oak. On the palate, a wall of fruit with some medium tannins. Great texture. Delicious. I would not open for a while for my tastes though.

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• 1989 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  As it was 9 years older than anything else, it was easy to pick this out. That said, it certainly seemed much younger than a 27 year old CdP. Impressive. Ruby in color. The nose has some stink on it. Love that. Also some cherries. On the palate, this has layers of complexity. Fresh and dried fruits. Tannins are resolved. Very pretty. Many comments about how elegant this was. That may have been in comparison as it tasted more mature than elegant to me. A real treat. Thanks to Jeff K for bringing it.

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• 1998 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Despite showing older than anything but the 89, this still showed quite well. At age 18, it seems to be about at peak. Ruby in color. The nose has some stink to it. Also some cherries with spice. On the palate, this has a lush texture. Juicy fruit still. Layers of fruit, earth and spice. Long finish. Maybe not the WOTN, but the wine that was closest to peak IMO.

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• 2000 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée Flawed

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Corked. Someone said that Jeb had two corked bottles in a WA tasting recently. Perhaps an issue in 2000? It was my last bottle, so no back up.

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• 2001 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  My favorite of this flight. Purple in color. The nose is vibrant with black cherries, spice, very slight earthiness, and a nice wet leather. On the palate, this is youthful. Its a 15 year old CdP, but there it is. Medium tannins. Juicy black cherries. Tightly packed layers that unwind in the glass. Long finish. great wine with years left.

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It was a beautiful night, everyone was having fun, so i opened one more.

• 2007 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 96 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Pop and pour after the main flight. My WOTN. Great showing. Purple in color. The nose is great with black raspberries, black cherries, clean with violets and spice. On the palate, this is deep and juicy. Lots of fruit but not over ripe. Medium tannins. Long finish. This is so delicious you just want to keep sipping on it.

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And it was still a great night and what the heck, let's add one more to the mix.

• 2011 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  And one more for the road. Pop and pour. Purple in color. This is good, but the weak sister at the table. The nose has black cherries and spice. On the palate, medium bodied, the lightest bodied of the night not counting the rose. Still there is good acidity. A modicum of cherry fruit. An excellent wine, that would be better alone at the dinner table than at a vertical.

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What a fun night. What a great day. So exhausted today, but well worth it.

As for Pegau, the wines showed why it continues to be one of my favorites. With the pricing north of $100 a bottle, I can't buy it like I used to. Its nice to have some in the cellar. The price tag on Jeff's 1989 was still on it. $13.99.