CDP Cuvée Réservée, Domaine de Pégau 2006

As for the Domaine du Pegau estate wines, the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee was tasted from multiple foudres, and appears to be better than the 2005 and 2004. The 2006 exhibits gamy, meaty, new saddle leather, kirsch liqueur, black currant, pepper, lavender, and spice notes. The wine is full-bodied, rich, deep, and long. One foudre, which may become a Cuvee Laurence, appears to be of the same quality as the Cuvee Reservee, but the Laurence will be bottled much later than the Reservee, which was about to be bottled at the time of my visit in late August

While the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reserve has never been my favorite vintage from Laurence, it nevertheless showed nicely on this occasion with classic Pegau notes of tapenade, garrigue and spiced meats flowing to a medium to full-bodied, supple, sexy wine that will continue to evolve gracefully for another decade.

Saturated red. Impressively complex scents of red and dark berries, cherry, leather and garrigue, with smoky minerals and dried flowers adding interest. Juicy raspberry and blackcurrant flavors pack serious punch and are seriously concentrated but there's a real elegance to this wine. Licorice and candied flowers echo on the long, sappy finish. This looks to be as good as the superb 2005 today.

Ripe and very packed, with fig, macerated currant, bittersweet cocoa, roasted chestnut and tar notes. The long finish flows nicely, with lots of buried garrigue and incense hints carried by fresh acidity. Drink now through 2027.

Tasting through the different components that will be blended together for the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee, there is no question that the Ferauds have pulled much more material out of this vintage than many. It is a deep ruby/purple-hued, up-front, sexy Chateauneuf with sweet, silky tannin, elegant, delicious fruit, and medium to full body. This will be a more evolved, quicker maturing vintage than other recent years. The 2006 is unquestionably more sensual and seductive than most young Pegau wines, and, therefore, has no shortage of charm and appeal. However, it will evolve nicely for 15 or more years. P.S. A wine that is not to be missed is Laurence’s partner’s Costieres di Nimes. Mark Fincham produces a beautiful blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache called Red Note. The 2006 may be the finest yet made. It is an exuberant, flamboyant, richly fruity wine with loads of Provencal character. 2006 looks to be a very strong vintage for this region, even superior to 2005. The 2005 Red Note is more restrained, tannic, and closed, but quite good. One further note, I do not know what Laurence Feraud’s intention is, but she insisted that I taste two wines from Crete that she may or may not represent in France. One was the 2006 Nostos, a 100% Syrah, and the other was a Syrah/Grenache blend, the 2005 Nostos Cuvee Alexandra. Both were outrageously good wines that merit plenty of attention from adventurous wine consumers. I would buy them in a nanosecond if they were available in America!