The 2005 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée was the winning bottle in the June Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. I did not decant the bottle and served it with a Chicken Caesar salad. Not a traditional food pairing but it worked on a hot Summer night in Seattle
The family of Domaine du Pegau has roots in Châteauneuf-du-Pape dating back to the mid-17th century. The word Pegau refers to a wine jug discovered in the excavations of the 14th century Pope’s palace in Avignon. Today, the estate is run by the Paul Ferraud and his daughter Laurence.
Crimson in color. 14% ABV. Savory nose of red fruits, garrigue and tar. Medium to full bodied with strong acidity. Big and burly with firm tannins. Kirsch, plums, charred meats and roasted herbs on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. I should have decanted the wine as it improved noticeably an hour or so after opening. The Grenache in this blend is really singing right now. Best over the next 5-7 years.
My rating: 96 points.
Current vintages including the 2018 can be found had for just about $60. Hard to go wrong with this iconic producer of CdP.