Pegau, Domaine du
Rhone, France
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Cuvee Reservee
Blend
2001
$42.99
13.5%
No purple left in the core, all black, clay red with well aged bricking, the outer edges as yellow as orange, at least the first glass is clear even though there's considerable sediment on the bottle side. Woolly, earthy nose close to asphalt, tar, the cherry liqueur and crushed raspberries extended by dark chocolate notes, then burnt brisket and lavender, basically skips back and forth across the whole spectrum. Medium-bodied, relaxed and at full maturity, tannin pulsates and punctuated by an acidic burst. Pungent potpourri, garrigues element, spiced orange peel, tarry earth, tea leaf to brown cigar wrapper. The raspberry, cherry to blackberry fruit not as sweet as a few years ago but nowhere near drying out. Even at 13.5% runs a little hot but that's a quibble. Pretty much clicking on all cylinders. Mainly Grenache, remainder Syrah, etc.
91 points