Domaine du Pegau Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2019

Jay Kline

The first of my small tranche of 2019 Cuvée Reservée’s and I figured it would be fun to share with the Tasting Group. Popped and poured and presented double-blind. The wine pours a translucent, deep ruby with magenta rim, near opaque core, medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine was clean with macerated raspberry, cranberry, and pomegranate fruits. There were purple flowers, some black pepper and rocky minerality along with a slightly gamey note which was quite charming. Both the fruit and non-fruit characteristics were confirmed on the palate. The wine finishes dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. There’s a compelling sense of power and energy in this wine. Everyone was in the Rhône but most were in the North; from Saint Joseph to Cornas, citing that they believed this was Syrah. However, two in the group called Châteauneuf du Pape and one actually called producer (!!) but missed on vintage (2016). Universally, the wine was fawned over and the dude who called Pagaü thought he actually favored the 2019 over the 2016 he had a while back. While I’m not sure I would go that far, the 2019 is truly quite stunning already and seems to have the guts to see a very long and wonderful life ahead. These are currently enjoying their customary early drinking window however, that window will likely close within a year or so and then I could see this shutting down pretty hard until 2025

vinokeeno

2019 vintage. A perennial fave CDP. 14.5% ABV. Blended with a lucky 13 (!!) different grapes but mainly Grenache (80%), Syrah (6%) and Mourvèdre (4%). Plushy, fruity and spicy nose. Medium-heavy body. Big, full fruit and structure frontal and mid palate with the spice kicking in at the end. Drinking great now and this will be a fantastic wine for the holidays but pack away/hide what you can afford to for the years to come because this is a wine worth tracing over the next two decades.