Winemaker Notes
The flagship of the Domaine du Pegau, the Cuvée Réservée represents the domaine over the years. A blend of 13 grape varieties, mainly Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, the Cuvée Réservée reveals the typical characteristics of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape soils.
Dark red with a purple body. On the nose, black ripe fruits like morello cherries and raspberries, juniper berries, black pepper and garrigue. After several years aging, the aromas will be characterized by plums, dried stone fruits, leather, fur and sandalwood. Round, rich and powerful with soft tannins. With time, it will involve into a more complex and spicy wine.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has so much power and meaty depth for the 2021 vintage, also stacks of healthy tannins that give it great intensity at the very long and complete finish. It’s packed with licorice, tar and stony character that makes it hard to pull yourself away from its compelling hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Scents of leather, violets, cherries and strawberries mark the nose of the 2021 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée, tasted as a representative assemblage from several foudres. Medium to full-bodied, it's silky but firm, with a long, slightly tannic finish.
Range: 92-94 -
Wine Enthusiast
Lemon oil, Anjou pear and delicate wildflowers greet the nose, accompanied by light lactic aromas. The palate reveals a delightful umami richness and baking spice, with kelp entwined around orchard fruits like white peach and honeysuckle. Fresh salty almonds and a touch of light spice add complexity, all balanced by nimble acidity that dances on the palate.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Ultimately spending four years in barrels, the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Laurence is made with the idea of being upfront, open, and ready to go on release. It reveals spice, garrigue, and saddle leather nuances that are very charming, forward, and appealing. Medium-bodied, seamless, and complex, it's a beautiful wine that's going to check all the boxes for you traditional Châteauneuf du Pape lovers out there. Barrel Sample: 91-93
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Vinous
Luckily, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée didn’t show any of the signs of reduction that it did when I first tasted it from barrel last year. Although not cruising at the same level as the two surrounding vintages, the 2021 offers a distinctively elegant character marked by garrigue, red/black cherry and undertones of meat and herbs. Round tannins gently structure this medium-bodied Cuvée Réservée that wraps up with a savory finish.
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Wine Spectator
Chewy and rich, with old-school charm, this is built on a foundation of iron that supports incense smoke, red berry and earthy leather notes. High-toned herbal details hover over, with a lot of iodine and graphite. Muscular tannins hold sway. Needs time to unwind. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2038.
Ancestors of father and daughter team Paul and Laurence Féraud farmed olives, cherries and grapes in Chateauneuf-du-Pape dating back to the 17th century. The methods established centuries ago carry on in the current vintages, creating robust, concentrated, traditional red and white wines. For many years the winery was known as Domaine Feraud fils and they made traditional Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
In 1987 Domaine du Pegau was formed as we know it today, when Laurence Feraud returned from her winemaking studies and she teamed up with her father Paul to create the winery. Complementing each other they have conserved the authenticity and quality of their Chateauneuf-du-Pape whilst bringing it to the attention of wine lovers around the world.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.