From the coravin. Typically expressive pegau nose of spice and red fruit. Young and a bit tight on the palate. raspberries and strawberries with some woody notes. Good balance. Still a tannic beast with a touch of alcoholic heat. I love it but Pegau is always in my wheelhouse. I think this vintage may need a bit more time. This was my first of nine. It’s great but hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Touch of Brett, rustic. Against the amarone, this is less in your face, maybe even somewhat closed. but the ripeness of the red fruits comes through. Fruit cake. Cocoa. Seamless tannins though, maybe mostly because of the pairing with food.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP at cellar temp. Typical Pegau funk backed up by plum and cherry. Dirt, hay, and slate on the finish. Definitely a Pegau and a good choice if you like earthy wines.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still young but this its elegance does a very good job hiding its 14.5% alcohol like crazy. Not Bretty or funky. Very smooth and pure. Wait 5 years and it will be quite something. Even in off years Laurence performs wonders
Very interesting! Expected more of a fruit bomb but this one is a lot more on the herbal spicy side. Spices, herbs, juniper berries, cedar and after a long decant the fruits were more showing with Raspberry and red cherries. Great CNdP!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
French but no BBC: Wow I thought this was a northern Rhone with the blue fruit and white pepper on the nose. Surprisingly clean so even when it was revealed as a CDP my mind didn't go to Pegau. Still quite tight and reserved, got a little jammy with air - probably needs more time to settle down. Quite international in style though so I am not sure if it will ever develop into something as interesting as Pegaus from yesteryear.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Immediately nice warm inviting nose with Provance herbs, also eucalyptus. Later there's more underbrush. It develops quite a lot during the first hours and the tannins is not that obvious, like in the beginning. A medium palate with ripe fruit like black berries and even cherries.. A nice finish also with sweet fruit. For my palate its mature, but not as great as 8 months ago. Guess i prefer Pégau on the wild side, but its tasty and nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beaucoup de fruits mures, touche herbacé, bonne amplitude, pas très tannique, Bien franchement un Pegau assez simple et a ma grande surprise le vin était mort le lendemain. Pas une bouteille déviante, juste peu de matière. Beaucoup moins éclatante que ma première bouteille.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
French road trip, mainly Rhône valley; 9/4/2022-9/18/2022: From open 75cl at Domaine Pegau tasting room, Châteauneuf du Pape. Cassis, dark ripe raspberry, garrigue and eucalyptus scent, all well in balance, and not aggressively spicy; surprisingly juicy medium-bodied entry leads with blackcurrants, other soft fruit and lively acidity; fruit still primary on the mid-palate, but the tannins are supple, and the wine is therefore (just about) approachable already; long finish. This probably won’t turn out such a clear long-term prospect as the 2017 and the 2019 obviously are, but unlike those tougher vintages it should provide real pleasure in early maturity (from about 2024/25?) Fine wine, fairly priced at 40 EUR cellar door. 90-91P
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black cherries, leather, herbs and a touch of bramberry. Not as much brett as anticipated. Firm leathery sandalwood tannins and a long finish. Preferred it on day one when it was a bit more rough and demanding compared to the fairly smooth showing day 2 but YMMV. Ready to drink for my palate but then again - I have realized that I like my Pegaus on the young side. Glass: Riedel Veritas OW Syrah
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good nose with pine pollen and cherries. Harmonious but very muted tannins. Fruity and succulent. Nice acidity and balance. There is a nice beauty to this wine. It has been well documented so not much I can add.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
drinkable and moderately enjoyable but a bit brutal coiled and tight, unlike some years this pegau isn't drinking particularly well early. will try next bottle in 2-3 years or so when it's less disjointed and less blocky and unfurled a bit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The cork continued to leak slowly after accessing a glass by Coravin. Oh well...it was time to open the bottle. The bouquet showed the appealing qualities of this house, including fig cake, dates, lavender, garrigue, savory herbs, with a distinctive juniper top note.
Decidedly ripe. The wine tastes liked it smells. The attack and mid palate deliver. The middle to back transition, however, turns wonky, with disjointed thinness, through which alcohol shows prominently. The finish, while solid, does not deliver what the attack and middle promise.
Overall, excellent! It just leaves something to be desired at the back and through the finish. A few years in bottle may work out the kinks, but I would not hold bottles beyond 2028-2030.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coravin pour, tasted over an hour or so, paired with pot roast.
It needed a half hour to come into its own. The house style comes through powerfully with air. Sweet fruits and berries, dried fruits, spice box, intense umami, and pleasantly dirty (brett). A ripe vintage, showing some stewiness, though not off-putting. A touch more restraint would have enhanced the experience. Excellent pairing with the roast!
No reason not to drink now, though improvement seems possible after two to three additional years in bottle. Not an extended ager. Drink by 2030-2032.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose shows the promise of this wine. Extremely aromatic.
Agree with others that despite the 14.5%, the wine remains balanced. Very complex, but the tannins are a obscuring other notes on the palate. Needs a few more years or a lengthy decant, but it is still a pleasurable drink now. Likely fantastic in 5-10 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sweet strawberry, raisin, grass and linens with the faintest heat on the nose. Found this to be a very nicely balanced CdP. Plenty of blue fruit, smoky, mineral, fine tannins with a pleasant finish. Very nice QPR. Probably drinks best from now to 7-8 yrs in cellar.
14.5 percent abv.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty hot and juicy out the gate. Stewed plum, gingerbread, violets and a kiss of Brett. The Brett expresses as a sort of pencil eraser rubber, but this blows off after time. Eventually it evolves into some black tar/asphalt/smoked meat/campfire/mesquite.
Tannins are pretty distant and the acid is kind of limp, but not flabby. It's just a big juice bomb from a hot year. Pretty much drinking peak already, and I wouldn't age this for fear of it turning into fruit stew and soy sauce.
Can picture this washing down a hamburger pretty nicely! It's just complex enough to consider a "good" wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hmm… longtime consumer of pegau… back to the 95 and 98 vintages…. While this offers a lot of her telltale character, it seems to lack power. Moderate in depth, it’s clean with good flavor… but doesn’t not show the punch I have seen in other vintages. 2001 remains a milestone as the wine explode from the glass like a volcano. Perhaps 2018 will grow and show more. Nothing technically wrong with the wine and it’s well made and tasty— just wish it had more oomph out of the glass.
Pop and poured, this is immediately ready. Lovely nose with pepper, rosemary, and other herbs, partly like smelling a cowsheed and also black fruit. The palate is fresh and balanced with sweet fruit, ending in a medium finish with lingering tannins. This is not as concentrated as many Pegau's, but it is very expressive and clean. It is delicious and juicy and to my palate it is ready now.
Une explosion de saveur au nez et en bouche, fruits mure, thym, anise, poivre noir, la longueur de ce vin est tout simplement éternel. Un vin tout en jeunesse sublime en ce moment et une beauté dans 15 ans. Impressionnant !
Young but surprisingly approachable. Mix of wild berries on the nose with hints of rosemary, dried herbs and garrigue. On the palate red and black fruit; silky, medium tannins
Showing great again, loosening up a tad.. Lovely inky dark brambly fruit, touch o' barnyard (in a good way), garrigue/herbs, cave-y minerality chiming in. Nice.
Semi opaque and ruby colored, the nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe raspberries, red licorice, red currants, bacon, dried herbs, dusty earth and toast. The palate is dry with immediate tannic grip, but not overly astringent. Red fruit compote, plums, herbs, meaty bacon, earthiness and toast from the oak all swirl around my mouth. It's quite complex and nicely structured. Medium to full-bodied, the alcohol (14.5% ABV) is well hidden but contributes to the lushness of the mouthfeel. The finish is quite decent in length and not too dry, with just a smidge of lingering tannins. It's quite young but very approachable, I would estimate a drinking window till 2035. It's Sunday Roast Beef for dinner, nearly a perfect match. 94 points and 5 stars for this $50 Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre blend.
Fourth virtual CdP wine tasting (Skype): Wine 6 of 6: Medium to dark ruby colour. Lightly reductive nose. Beautiful, persistent red fruit notes, cherry, kirsch, black tea, herbal notes, pastille, spices, liquorice, and intense minerality, with good acidity, and very good length. Restrained on day one, more open and expressive on day two, and a little more restrained but very mineral again on day three. Well-balanced, with very good concentration. Young. For mid-term drinking. I opened this 2018 Pégau as a back-up bottle two replace two corked Le Vieux Donjons, and it became the wine of the tasting!
(Imported by Handpicked Selections, VA). Domaine du Pégau... one of the classic wines of the region over the last 30 years. Pégau, like Beaucastel, uses all 13 permitted varieties of the region. This partly explains the complexity of the wine, as does low yields and fantastic, traditional winemaking. The wine is typically 70% GR, 15% SY, 10% MV, and 5% other. _________________
Color: Med-dark to dark ruby. Impressive.
Nose: Complex, expressive, classic Pégau nose of smoke, earth, griotte cherry, black raspberry confiture, coffee grounds, and garrigue (wild brush/herb), and distinct baked stones. Beautiful complexity. Slightly rustic (barnyard). Classic Pégau.
Palate: Intense attack. Tremendous energy here. Lovely, saturated entry and mid-palate, full of lush sweet black cherry and black raspberry fruit. Kissed by complex garrigue wild herbs, coffee, and animal. Good balance. Ripe moderate tannins. Almost painful flavor intensity on the finish. 14.5 alc.
Solid 94. The ripeness of the '18 vintage is on full display here.
Optimum drinking widow: This Pégau CDP tastes pretty darn good right now. But will unwind, soften, and integrate with five more years age. Drink: 2022 to 2030 (from a cool proper cellar).
A second bottle had more Brett. There may be some bottle variation.
Not my favorite vintage of this wine, though we usually don’t open one this soon. Ripe, fruity and hot. This seemed bigger and riper than a Once and Future Zin we had with it. I’ll hold the others for a while and hope for better things.
Oh my lord this is so good in spite of its youth. This already has a pretty classic Pegau nose to me. Tightly wound dark fruit and dark spice at first, gamey barnyard, pepper. Consistent notes on the palate, some streaks of violet come out. Fairly light on its feet, I'd call it just barely medium in body. Healthy acidity on it. Really started to come into its own after 2-3 hours of being open. Very nice and will be great when it matures and for years to come.
Easy 92 for me tonight and I'd imagine more points for the rest of my bottles to come in the years ahead. I love this stuff.
Savory with a nice dose of Pegau funk. I know this vintage is supposedly softer and more easy drinking, but there's alot to this wine and likely will be better in a few years.
Opened an hour beforehand. Medium garnet in the glass. Red plum, smoked meat, crushed rock jump out of the glass. On the palate, pretty complex with licorice, spices, and black pepper. Medium acidity with high, grippy tannins and a medium-long finish. A good value and typical example of CdP.
Drank a bottle, knowing it was probably too soon. Wine guy said it was drinking exceptionally well. He was right. Not as "earthy" as typical Pegau and a little smoother than some. We thoroughly enjoyed it. The other bottles have been put away for a while.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4th Saturday Group (R&D's): Popped and poured with dinner. Mixed red and black fruit with a terrific garrigue overtone. There's just the slightest hint of the typical Pegau funk underneath; a very clean vintage for this wine. Spice, herb and mixed fruit flavors, with red plum on the finish. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Med Ruby Pronounced aromas and flavors intensity of red off sweet forest fruits, earth, herbal spices, oak vanilla, dry, high acidity, med+ tannins, high abv, med+ body, complex, long finish. Excellent! 92
Rated it 93 on potential. Double decanted, and the waited an hour. Waaaay to young. Muted nose of dark fruit. Can’t help but compliment how the acid and tannins were integrated. Medium body, a well constructed wine; extremely well balanced. Poured the remaining 1/2 bottle bottle back into the bottle. Pit this away for 8-10 years, IMHO.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Given three days of rain this past long weekend, I had the opportunity to open a bottle for myself and drink over as many days. Day two was clearly the best day, followed by day one, and then today which surprisingly was not as good as I thought it might be. That said, this brand spanking new Pegau vintage does have great potential. Tannins and acidity well within what one would expect for a Pegau both decently present. Ruby in color, with a nice, albeit somewhat light, animal barnyard nose along with forest floor, garrigue, leather, smoke and mushroom. Medium in body with a taste that delivers high alcohol levels, green pepper, licorice, graphite, coffee, stewed blackberry and other stone fruits. Nice, pleasant long finish. Needs time - be advised.
Very surprisingly easy-going and direct, medium-bodied, pleasant. Missing some of the character that makes this wine unique and delicious to me. Enjoyable now.
Juvenile, with a wild strawberry candy meet funk vibe, in a medium body. The wine has a stripped feel abut it and it seems like touching something through the protective plastic. It came across like a new world, hard squeezed pinot noir, but then the back end has the Pegau earthy pop. This is probably one of the least interesting Pegau that I have engaged with so far, but this is also the youngest Pegau I have ever dared to open. It reminds me of a sweeter 2011, though I think 2011 is far more restrained and interesting. Time will tell...HOLD
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really nice young Pegau, no obvious flaws. This bottle showed a little better than a 2017 I had a bit ago, that one had a little wateriness in the mid-palate this one did not. I consumed this rather quickly as there were a few if us so didn’t have the luxury of watching it evolve but shows great promise. Clearly very young but I think dollar for dollar these 2018’s are going to be a massive bargain in a few years.
Medium bodied, rustic unique style. Needs a few hours air to open, and nose greets you with dusty cherries, raw coffee bean, smoked pistachio, dry garrigue. Palate towards violets, red fruit, brick dust, leather with a little brett, puffed rice.
It is indeed like a "cleaner" version of the 2014 vintage, though right now quite a bit softer, more elegant, perhaps less exciting. Finish is a touch volatile, and this has always meant give it a few years. Drink 2024 onward for a few decades. Under $50 USD? Buy a case.
One of the few producers that I purchase each and every vintage. I find that Laurence Feraud’s wines are consistently some of the more interesting and enjoyable wines made in all of Chateauneuf du Pape; particularly when value comes into play. This bottle is my first experience with her 2018 vintage and the first bottle of a small tranche that I swooped up upon release. Popped and poured; consumed over 5 hours. The color is deep ruby with a near opaque core; glossy and gorgeous to behold. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, this is classic Pegaü with loads of dark cherry and bramble fruit, a veritable hillside full of garrigue, lavender, black pepper, and something that reminds me of old books. On that palate, the fruit is equally generous, brambles and cherries, exotic spices, Herbs de Provence and a somewhat sanguine-like character to it. Substantial structure though, it seems to be a notch lower than the previous three vintages at this point in its young life. The tannins are very sneaky. Almost imperceptible for the first hour and yet, by hour four, they were very much making themselves known (in the Medium+ range). Acid is also Medium+ indicating these have an exciting life ahead. The finish lasts for well over a minute. All in all, another lovely Pegaü that will likely live in the shadow of some of the more heralded vintages in the last ten years however, that doesn’t mean this isn’t a stunner. Absolutely lovely stuff and I very much look forward to enjoying these well into the 2030's.
Decided to try one early. Great wine, has the abundant tannins of the 2015 relative to its release date, but perhaps not quite the mid plate depth 2 hrs in. But that means I am quibbling between two great wines. At 45 a steal with upside potential. 92+
Decanted for 2,5 hours and very robust and powerful wine with aromas of earth, tobacco, herbs and pepper. The C9dP from Pegau is full bodied with layers of red berries and ripe plums (or something similar). The wine is still very (too?) young and will need some years to evolve. But it is still very good and has a good QPR.
I cannot get past how open and delicious this is, being such a youngster and all... Dried strawberries, wet earth, white pepper, garrigue, bramble berries and stone fruit. Such a round and complete middle plate, and the tannins are of cotton; the finish sails for some time. Medium-to full-bodied, and all the structure to age well. Decanted for two hours, then poured back into the bottle. The garrigue, strawberry and leather aftertaste truly grab you. Drink 2022 - 2037.
Obviously too young to coravine from but couldn’t resist. Nice brett that unfortunately disappeared after a few minutes. Very young and preliminary but actually drinkable. Perfect balance between acidity, fruit and coarse tannins. Not more than about 88 p now but potential for at least 92-93 in 2030.
Certainly a lighter vintage - I like it, from this domaine most certainly. Plenty of red fruit, garrrigue galore, very local feel, juicy style. Will keep 10+ years easily, lovely now. #cassoulet
Purung men ändå fullt drickbar. Mindre brettighet än tidigare provade årgångar, slankare men utan att för den delen tagit bort Pegau karraktären. Mängder av örter och kryddor, mörka bär. Mogen frukt. Har svårt att avgöra lagringspotentialen.
Very typical for Pegau, this is marked by dark cherry fruit, Provençal herbs and spices. Quite airy and with decent acidity, however also a small touch of alcohol. Improved much after a few hours a air. Make sure to serve this appropriately chilled, it gets heady when the temperature goes up.
Earthy, robust, animalistic, meaty, fruity and fresh, this is already a delight. The ripe berries are accompanied by layers of herbs, pepper, spice and garrigue. Full-bodied with layers of ripe plums and cherries, the wine is long, fresh and intense, with the ability to age and evolve for years. This is not a vintage that will require years of cellaring. Just a few years will add a lot to the wine. The wine is a blend of 80% Grenache and various other AOC allowed grape varieties. Because no Cuvee da Capo was produced in 2018, those grapes were added to flesh out the Reservee.
Huge nose of herbes de Provence, étable, garrigue, BBQ, soy sauce... Très épicé, poivre blanc, super light, groseilles, delicious oriental spices, very digest, super refined... 100% grappes non-éraflées!!
very black fruit, good ripeness maturity... Super refined tannins, black myrtilles, a bit riper than the 2017 but still beautiful balance, some mineral freshness in the finish 95-98/100
1/11/2024 - MuddyBear Likes this wine: 93 Points
From the coravin. Typically expressive pegau nose of spice and red fruit. Young and a bit tight on the palate. raspberries and strawberries with some woody notes. Good balance. Still a tannic beast with a touch of alcoholic heat. I love it but Pegau is always in my wheelhouse. I think this vintage may need a bit more time. This was my first of nine. It’s great but hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2024 - sjmayotte Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking great after 1hr decant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2023 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Thanksgiving day wine at our daughter’s house. A touch more tannic than the 2017 we also drank.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2023 - wineton.mee wrote: 92 Points
Touch of Brett, rustic. Against the amarone, this is less in your face, maybe even somewhat closed. but the ripeness of the red fruits comes through. Fruit cake. Cocoa. Seamless tannins though, maybe mostly because of the pairing with food.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2023 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Continues to drink quite well.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2023 - jmckeeIII Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very smooth opened up and will get better over time
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2023 - Crunge wrote: 92 Points
PnP at cellar temp. Typical Pegau funk backed up by plum and cherry. Dirt, hay, and slate on the finish. Definitely a Pegau and a good choice if you like earthy wines.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2023 - Rywyine Likes this wine:
This was quite elegant for a CDP. A bit of Brett was present but I still enjoyed. Red and blue fruited. Still young. Well balanced with the EtOH
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2023 - Vercellotti Likes this wine: 93 Points
Awesome nose and flavour on opening.
Changed for the better over an hour.
Soft tannins, blue berry, little vanilla, and then candy floss. Such a delicious long after taste.
Should age for another few years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2023 - mimik Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still young but this its elegance does a very good job hiding its 14.5% alcohol like crazy. Not Bretty or funky. Very smooth and pure. Wait 5 years and it will be quite something. Even in off years Laurence performs wonders
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
2/13/2023 - WAWINEFAN wrote: 90 Points
Popped and pored and then decanted and drank over an hour. A little funk on the pallet to begin with but overall a nice wine. Still young.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2023 - DevenStephens Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very interesting! Expected more of a fruit bomb but this one is a lot more on the herbal spicy side. Spices, herbs, juniper berries, cedar and after a long decant the fruits were more showing with Raspberry and red cherries. Great CNdP!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2023 - ragavolley Likes this wine: 93 Points
Toujours mon préféré
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2023 - melvinyeowq wrote:
French but no BBC: Wow I thought this was a northern Rhone with the blue fruit and white pepper on the nose. Surprisingly clean so even when it was revealed as a CDP my mind didn't go to Pegau. Still quite tight and reserved, got a little jammy with air - probably needs more time to settle down. Quite international in style though so I am not sure if it will ever develop into something as interesting as Pegaus from yesteryear.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2022 - Achermann Likes this wine: 91 Points
Christmas dinner. Blackcurrant, varmth, garrique, eucalyptus, a little barnyard. Quite long finish.
Hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2022 - MichaelY Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opens up beautifully in 30 mintes, pair well with lamb. Stock up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2022 - swon919 Likes this wine: 96 Points
잔에서 50분후에 굉장히 엘레강스하고
밸런스 잡힌 팔렛이 올라옴
복합미도 훌륭하고 아주 맘에드는 와인
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2022 - Whitman wrote: 92 Points
Immediately nice warm inviting nose with Provance herbs, also eucalyptus. Later there's more underbrush.
It develops quite a lot during the first hours and the tannins is not that obvious, like in the beginning. A medium palate with ripe fruit like black berries and even cherries.. A nice finish also with sweet fruit.
For my palate its mature, but not as great as 8 months ago. Guess i prefer Pégau on the wild side, but its tasty and nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2022 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking really well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2022 - rjm wrote:
Very strong tulip nose - classic CDP but a bit thin.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2022 - Goodwine4ever wrote: 89 Points
Beaucoup de fruits mures, touche herbacé, bonne amplitude, pas très tannique, Bien franchement un Pegau assez simple et a ma grande surprise le vin était mort le lendemain. Pas une bouteille déviante, juste peu de matière. Beaucoup moins éclatante que ma première bouteille.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2022 - adamanko wrote: 93 Points
This is gorgeous now. With my spanish Chistorras it matches perfectly. Much more polished than expected. Well balanced. 93.
Edit: Agree that this is probably not for long term cellaring. But what do I know?
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2022 - honest bob wrote: 91 Points
French road trip, mainly Rhône valley; 9/4/2022-9/18/2022: From open 75cl at Domaine Pegau tasting room, Châteauneuf du Pape. Cassis, dark ripe raspberry, garrigue and eucalyptus scent, all well in balance, and not aggressively spicy; surprisingly juicy medium-bodied entry leads with blackcurrants, other soft fruit and lively acidity; fruit still primary on the mid-palate, but the tannins are supple, and the wine is therefore (just about) approachable already; long finish. This probably won’t turn out such a clear long-term prospect as the 2017 and the 2019 obviously are, but unlike those tougher vintages it should provide real pleasure in early maturity (from about 2024/25?) Fine wine, fairly priced at 40 EUR cellar door. 90-91P
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2022 - Renzloh Likes this wine: 92 Points
Brett and lots of cherries. Decanted for 1 hour before drinking. Powerful but still a little rough. Needs to sit for a while.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2022 - matage Likes this wine: 92 Points
Black cherries, leather, herbs and a touch of bramberry. Not as much brett as anticipated. Firm leathery sandalwood tannins and a long finish.
Preferred it on day one when it was a bit more rough and demanding compared to the fairly smooth showing day 2 but YMMV.
Ready to drink for my palate but then again - I have realized that I like my Pegaus on the young side.
Glass: Riedel Veritas OW Syrah
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2022 - AndrewSGHall wrote: 91 Points
Good nose with pine pollen and cherries. Harmonious but very muted tannins. Fruity and succulent. Nice acidity and balance. There is a nice beauty to this wine. It has been well documented so not much I can add.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2022 - jmoon wrote: 91 Points
drinkable and moderately enjoyable but a bit brutal coiled and tight, unlike some years this pegau isn't drinking particularly well early. will try next bottle in 2-3 years or so when it's less disjointed and less blocky and unfurled a bit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2022 - Motz wrote: 92 Points
Over two days.
The cork continued to leak slowly after accessing a glass by Coravin. Oh well...it was time to open the bottle. The bouquet showed the appealing qualities of this house, including fig cake, dates, lavender, garrigue, savory herbs, with a distinctive juniper top note.
Decidedly ripe. The wine tastes liked it smells. The attack and mid palate deliver. The middle to back transition, however, turns wonky, with disjointed thinness, through which alcohol shows prominently. The finish, while solid, does not deliver what the attack and middle promise.
Overall, excellent! It just leaves something to be desired at the back and through the finish. A few years in bottle may work out the kinks, but I would not hold bottles beyond 2028-2030.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2022 - Motz wrote: 92 Points
Coravin pour, tasted over an hour or so, paired with pot roast.
It needed a half hour to come into its own. The house style comes through powerfully with air. Sweet fruits and berries, dried fruits, spice box, intense umami, and pleasantly dirty (brett). A ripe vintage, showing some stewiness, though not off-putting. A touch more restraint would have enhanced the experience. Excellent pairing with the roast!
No reason not to drink now, though improvement seems possible after two to three additional years in bottle. Not an extended ager. Drink by 2030-2032.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2022 - Lfholland Likes this wine:
Nose shows the promise of this wine. Extremely aromatic.
Agree with others that despite the 14.5%, the wine remains balanced. Very complex, but the tannins are a obscuring other notes on the palate. Needs a few more years or a lengthy decant, but it is still a pleasurable drink now. Likely fantastic in 5-10 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2022 - PghMike Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sweet strawberry, raisin, grass and linens with the faintest heat on the nose. Found this to be a very nicely balanced CdP. Plenty of blue fruit, smoky, mineral, fine tannins with a pleasant finish. Very nice QPR. Probably drinks best from now to 7-8 yrs in cellar.
14.5 percent abv.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2022 - spoplack wrote: 88 Points
too early - my bad. Theres a lot of promise but currently overwhelmed by tannin
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2022 - Joelene wrote: 94 Points
Great again. A classic in the making…
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2022 - Jack Cranley Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pretty hot and juicy out the gate. Stewed plum, gingerbread, violets and a kiss of Brett. The Brett expresses as a sort of pencil eraser rubber, but this blows off after time. Eventually it evolves into some black tar/asphalt/smoked meat/campfire/mesquite.
Tannins are pretty distant and the acid is kind of limp, but not flabby. It's just a big juice bomb from a hot year. Pretty much drinking peak already, and I wouldn't age this for fear of it turning into fruit stew and soy sauce.
Can picture this washing down a hamburger pretty nicely! It's just complex enough to consider a "good" wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2022 - BradA wrote:
Hmm… longtime consumer of pegau… back to the 95 and 98 vintages…. While this offers a lot of her telltale character, it seems to lack power. Moderate in depth, it’s clean with good flavor… but doesn’t not show the punch I have seen in other vintages. 2001 remains a milestone as the wine explode from the glass like a volcano.
Perhaps 2018 will grow and show more. Nothing technically wrong with the wine and it’s well made and tasty— just wish it had more oomph out of the glass.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/18/2022 - Whitman wrote: 94 Points
Pop and poured, this is immediately ready. Lovely nose with pepper, rosemary, and other herbs, partly like smelling a cowsheed and also black fruit. The palate is fresh and balanced with sweet fruit, ending in a medium finish with lingering tannins.
This is not as concentrated as many Pegau's, but it is very expressive and clean. It is delicious and juicy and to my palate it is ready now.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
2/2/2022 - Goodwine4ever wrote: 95 Points
Une explosion de saveur au nez et en bouche, fruits mure, thym, anise, poivre noir, la longueur de ce vin est tout simplement éternel.
Un vin tout en jeunesse sublime en ce moment et une beauté dans 15 ans.
Impressionnant !
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/29/2022 - JCGuthrie wrote:
Young but surprisingly approachable. Mix of wild berries on the nose with hints of rosemary, dried herbs and garrigue. On the palate red and black fruit; silky, medium tannins
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/30/2021 - danstrings Likes this wine: 92 Points
Showing great again, loosening up a tad.. Lovely inky dark brambly fruit, touch o' barnyard (in a good way), garrigue/herbs, cave-y minerality chiming in. Nice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/12/2021 - caspernick Likes this wine: 94 Points
Semi opaque and ruby colored, the nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe raspberries, red licorice, red currants, bacon, dried herbs, dusty earth and toast. The palate is dry with immediate tannic grip, but not overly astringent. Red fruit compote, plums, herbs, meaty bacon, earthiness and toast from the oak all swirl around my mouth. It's quite complex and nicely structured. Medium to full-bodied, the alcohol (14.5% ABV) is well hidden but contributes to the lushness of the mouthfeel. The finish is quite decent in length and not too dry, with just a smidge of lingering tannins. It's quite young but very approachable, I would estimate a drinking window till 2035. It's Sunday Roast Beef for dinner, nearly a perfect match. 94 points and 5 stars for this $50 Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre blend.
https://wp.me/p125DB-2m2
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/5/2021 - PSPatrick wrote: 93 Points
Fourth virtual CdP wine tasting (Skype): Wine 6 of 6: Medium to dark ruby colour. Lightly reductive nose. Beautiful, persistent red fruit notes, cherry, kirsch, black tea, herbal notes, pastille, spices, liquorice, and intense minerality, with good acidity, and very good length. Restrained on day one, more open and expressive on day two, and a little more restrained but very mineral again on day three. Well-balanced, with very good concentration. Young. For mid-term drinking. I opened this 2018 Pégau as a back-up bottle two replace two corked Le Vieux Donjons, and it became the wine of the tasting!
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/25/2021 - SWJamRock Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needs a few more years in the bottle but will age beautifully.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/24/2021 - Jon Harrison Likes this wine: 94 Points
(Imported by Handpicked Selections, VA).
Domaine du Pégau... one of the classic wines of the region over the last 30 years. Pégau, like Beaucastel, uses all 13 permitted varieties of the region. This partly explains the complexity of the wine, as does low yields and fantastic, traditional winemaking. The wine is typically 70% GR, 15% SY, 10% MV, and 5% other.
_________________
Color: Med-dark to dark ruby. Impressive.
Nose: Complex, expressive, classic Pégau nose of smoke, earth, griotte cherry, black raspberry confiture, coffee grounds, and garrigue (wild brush/herb), and distinct baked stones. Beautiful complexity. Slightly rustic (barnyard). Classic Pégau.
Palate: Intense attack. Tremendous energy here. Lovely, saturated entry and mid-palate, full of lush sweet black cherry and black raspberry fruit. Kissed by complex garrigue wild herbs, coffee, and animal. Good balance. Ripe moderate tannins. Almost painful flavor intensity on the finish. 14.5 alc.
Solid 94. The ripeness of the '18 vintage is on full display here.
Optimum drinking widow: This Pégau CDP tastes pretty darn good right now. But will unwind, soften, and integrate with five more years age.
Drink: 2022 to 2030 (from a cool proper cellar).
A second bottle had more Brett. There may be some bottle variation.
JGH sommelier CMS-III, San Francisco/Bay Area
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/7/2021 - Outplaying wrote:
Not my favorite vintage of this wine, though we usually don’t open one this soon. Ripe, fruity and hot. This seemed bigger and riper than a Once and Future Zin we had with it. I’ll hold the others for a while and hope for better things.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/5/2021 - 87tellub Likes this wine: 92 Points
Oh my lord this is so good in spite of its youth. This already has a pretty classic Pegau nose to me. Tightly wound dark fruit and dark spice at first, gamey barnyard, pepper. Consistent notes on the palate, some streaks of violet come out. Fairly light on its feet, I'd call it just barely medium in body. Healthy acidity on it. Really started to come into its own after 2-3 hours of being open. Very nice and will be great when it matures and for years to come.
Easy 92 for me tonight and I'd imagine more points for the rest of my bottles to come in the years ahead. I love this stuff.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/4/2021 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Savory with a nice dose of Pegau funk. I know this vintage is supposedly softer and more easy drinking, but there's alot to this wine and likely will be better in a few years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/13/2021 - billyloveswine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened an hour beforehand. Medium garnet in the glass. Red plum, smoked meat, crushed rock jump out of the glass. On the palate, pretty complex with licorice, spices, and black pepper. Medium acidity with high, grippy tannins and a medium-long finish. A good value and typical example of CdP.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/9/2021 - Joelene wrote: 93 Points
Very nice young Pegau delicious now with long decant and tons of upside!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/8/2021 - Renzloh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank a bottle, knowing it was probably too soon. Wine guy said it was drinking exceptionally well. He was right. Not as "earthy" as typical Pegau and a little smoother than some. We thoroughly enjoyed it. The other bottles have been put away for a while.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2021 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
4th Saturday Group (R&D's): Popped and poured with dinner. Mixed red and black fruit with a terrific garrigue overtone. There's just the slightest hint of the typical Pegau funk underneath; a very clean vintage for this wine. Spice, herb and mixed fruit flavors, with red plum on the finish. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2021 - jaisonaugustine Likes this wine:
Dark cherry notes
Rich full bodied wine
Feel the minerality
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/12/2021 - Yagil wrote: 92 Points
Med Ruby
Pronounced aromas and flavors intensity of red off sweet forest fruits, earth, herbal spices, oak vanilla, dry, high acidity, med+ tannins, high abv, med+ body, complex, long finish.
Excellent!
92
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/6/2021 - goldhook wrote: 93 Points
Rated it 93 on potential. Double decanted, and the waited an hour. Waaaay to young. Muted nose of dark fruit. Can’t help but compliment how the acid and tannins were integrated. Medium body, a well constructed wine; extremely well balanced. Poured the remaining 1/2 bottle bottle back into the bottle. Pit this away for 8-10 years, IMHO.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2021 - ChopperWine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Given three days of rain this past long weekend, I had the opportunity to open a bottle for myself and drink over as many days. Day two was clearly the best day, followed by day one, and then today which surprisingly was not as good as I thought it might be. That said, this brand spanking new Pegau vintage does have great potential. Tannins and acidity well within what one would expect for a Pegau both decently present. Ruby in color, with a nice, albeit somewhat light, animal barnyard nose along with forest floor, garrigue, leather, smoke and mushroom. Medium in body with a taste that delivers high alcohol levels, green pepper, licorice, graphite, coffee, stewed blackberry and other stone fruits. Nice, pleasant long finish. Needs time - be advised.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/22/2021 - Force5 wrote:
Very surprisingly easy-going and direct, medium-bodied, pleasant. Missing some of the character that makes this wine unique and delicious to me. Enjoyable now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/19/2021 - Purple Tooth wrote: 91 Points
Juvenile, with a wild strawberry candy meet funk vibe, in a medium body. The wine has a stripped feel abut it and it seems like touching something through the protective plastic. It came across like a new world, hard squeezed pinot noir, but then the back end has the Pegau earthy pop. This is probably one of the least interesting Pegau that I have engaged with so far, but this is also the youngest Pegau I have ever dared to open. It reminds me of a sweeter 2011, though I think 2011 is far more restrained and interesting. Time will tell...HOLD
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2021 - danstrings Likes this wine: 92 Points
Young and boisterous - showing great! Loads of earthy brambly dark fruit, wet loamy earth, hint o' barnyard (in a good way). Nice.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/12/2021 - Joelene Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really nice young Pegau, no obvious flaws. This bottle showed a little better than a 2017 I had a bit ago, that one had a little wateriness in the mid-palate this one did not. I consumed this rather quickly as there were a few if us so didn’t have the luxury of watching it evolve but shows great promise. Clearly very young but I think dollar for dollar these 2018’s are going to be a massive bargain in a few years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/22/2021 - aero Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium bodied, rustic unique style. Needs a few hours air to open, and nose greets you with dusty cherries, raw coffee bean, smoked pistachio, dry garrigue. Palate towards violets, red fruit, brick dust, leather with a little brett, puffed rice.
It is indeed like a "cleaner" version of the 2014 vintage, though right now quite a bit softer, more elegant, perhaps less exciting. Finish is a touch volatile, and this has always meant give it a few years. Drink 2024 onward for a few decades. Under $50 USD? Buy a case.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/11/2021 - thesternowl wrote: 93 Points
One of the few producers that I purchase each and every vintage. I find that Laurence Feraud’s wines are consistently some of the more interesting and enjoyable wines made in all of Chateauneuf du Pape; particularly when value comes into play. This bottle is my first experience with her 2018 vintage and the first bottle of a small tranche that I swooped up upon release. Popped and poured; consumed over 5 hours. The color is deep ruby with a near opaque core; glossy and gorgeous to behold. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, this is classic Pegaü with loads of dark cherry and bramble fruit, a veritable hillside full of garrigue, lavender, black pepper, and something that reminds me of old books. On that palate, the fruit is equally generous, brambles and cherries, exotic spices, Herbs de Provence and a somewhat sanguine-like character to it. Substantial structure though, it seems to be a notch lower than the previous three vintages at this point in its young life. The tannins are very sneaky. Almost imperceptible for the first hour and yet, by hour four, they were very much making themselves known (in the Medium+ range). Acid is also Medium+ indicating these have an exciting life ahead. The finish lasts for well over a minute. All in all, another lovely Pegaü that will likely live in the shadow of some of the more heralded vintages in the last ten years however, that doesn’t mean this isn’t a stunner. Absolutely lovely stuff and I very much look forward to enjoying these well into the 2030's.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/8/2021 - hondius wrote:
Decided to try one early. Great wine, has the abundant tannins of the 2015 relative to its release date, but perhaps not quite the mid plate depth 2 hrs in. But that means I am quibbling between two great wines. At 45 a steal with upside potential. 92+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/7/2021 - blakel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still very young with powerful tannins but amazing complexity and spice profile
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/9/2021 - Sean Tay wrote: 93 Points
Pronounced nose intensity with notes of smoke, oak, toast, spices, black fruits. Medium+ acidity and tannin.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
4/2/2021 - Zorg wrote:
Opened the bottle I coravined from last week, ditto that TN.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/1/2021 - Marvin77 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 2,5 hours and very robust and powerful wine with aromas of earth, tobacco, herbs and pepper. The C9dP from Pegau is full bodied with layers of red berries and ripe plums (or something similar). The wine is still very (too?) young and will need some years to evolve. But it is still very good and has a good QPR.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/30/2021 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 95 Points
I cannot get past how open and delicious this is, being such a youngster and all... Dried strawberries, wet earth, white pepper, garrigue, bramble berries and stone fruit. Such a round and complete middle plate, and the tannins are of cotton; the finish sails for some time. Medium-to full-bodied, and all the structure to age well. Decanted for two hours, then poured back into the bottle. The garrigue, strawberry and leather aftertaste truly grab you. Drink 2022 - 2037.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/26/2021 - Zorg wrote:
Obviously too young to coravine from but couldn’t resist. Nice brett that unfortunately disappeared after a few minutes. Very young and preliminary but actually drinkable. Perfect balance between acidity, fruit and coarse tannins. Not more than about 88 p now but potential for at least 92-93 in 2030.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/19/2021 - beatles wrote: 94 Points
Certainly a lighter vintage - I like it, from this domaine most certainly. Plenty of red fruit, garrrigue galore, very local feel, juicy style. Will keep 10+ years easily, lovely now.
#cassoulet
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/15/2021 - thunberg wrote: 91 Points
Purung men ändå fullt drickbar. Mindre brettighet än tidigare provade årgångar, slankare men utan att för den delen tagit bort Pegau karraktären. Mängder av örter och kryddor, mörka bär. Mogen frukt. Har svårt att avgöra lagringspotentialen.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/19/2020 - pbaek wrote:
Very typical for Pegau, this is marked by dark cherry fruit, Provençal herbs and spices. Quite airy and with decent acidity, however also a small touch of alcohol. Improved much after a few hours a air. Make sure to serve this appropriately chilled, it gets heady when the temperature goes up.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
10/12/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
Earthy, robust, animalistic, meaty, fruity and fresh, this is already a delight. The ripe berries are accompanied by layers of herbs, pepper, spice and garrigue. Full-bodied with layers of ripe plums and cherries, the wine is long, fresh and intense, with the ability to age and evolve for years. This is not a vintage that will require years of cellaring. Just a few years will add a lot to the wine. The wine is a blend of 80% Grenache and various other AOC allowed grape varieties. Because no Cuvee da Capo was produced in 2018, those grapes were added to flesh out the Reservee.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
3/15/2020 - Philippe_C wrote: 96 Points
Huge nose of herbes de Provence, étable, garrigue, BBQ, soy sauce... Très épicé, poivre blanc, super light, groseilles, delicious oriental spices, very digest, super refined... 100% grappes non-éraflées!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/26/2019 - Philippe_C wrote: 96 Points
very black fruit, good ripeness maturity... Super refined tannins, black myrtilles, a bit riper than the 2017 but still beautiful balance, some mineral freshness in the finish 95-98/100
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)