Domaine Du Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee 2020

Cellar for up to 11 years. Decant 1 hour before serving. Domaine du Pegau is owned by the Feraud family who can trace their roots right back to the 17th century in the Southern Rhone. Daughter Laurence and father Paul work tirelessly to produce traditional-style Châteauneuf du Pape wines. Regarded as one of the region’s top producers, Pegau has 11 parcels of prime vineyards in Courthézon, La Solitude and Bédarrides which cover around 47 acres in total. Their Cuvée Reserve is predominantly composed of Grenache along with a smaller proportion of Syrah and Mourvèdre, Counoise and other varieties. All of their grapes are harvested by hand and then fermented without destemming to add complexity. The young wine is then aged in large oak foudres for an average of 24 months. There is no fining or filtering before bottling to preserve the authentic character of the wine. The nose opens with dark berry notes, licorice, leather and dried herbs while the first sip reveals a full body, firm tannins and very long finish. On the palate there are intense cherry, plum and cassis notes seasoned with black pepper, tobacco leaf and hints of cigar box spice from the oak maturation. A great addition to the cellar or partner for hearty red meat dishes.

Price: £48.97 from 8wines UK