This wine is medium plus in weight and concentration, generous and complex. It drinks like a Rhône wine from a cru (a recognized, prestigious appellation). One could call it a “baby Châteauneuf-du-Pape.” There are black currants, black cherries and wild dark fruits mixed with garrigue (dried Mediterranean herbs), violets and warm earth notes. Despite its savory, deep, brooding, intense and rustic character, the wine is rich and ripe with rounded tannins.

WINE INFORMATION

Château Pégau is located about 10 minutes north of Avignon and just south of the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Southern Rhone Valley on the banks of the Rhône River. A large, old Provençal farmhouse is surrounded by 41 hectares (100 acres) of vineyards.

The Feraud family can trace its roots in the area back to 1670. Paul Feraud was the first in the family to begin bottling wine from his own grapes; before that, the production was sold to négociants. Paul’s winemaker daughter, Laurence, took over the estate in 1987, renaming the estate from Feraud to Pégau. The word “pégau” refers to a clay wine jug; these were unearthed below the local castle where they were used during the 14th century papal period. Domaine Pégau produces exclusively Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines while Château Pégau produces wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, as well as Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages, Côtes du Rhône (red and white) as well as some Vin de France wines.

For this cuvée, grapes from deep loamy soil covered with pebbles are hand harvested and there is no destemming of bunches. Many of these vines were planted as far back as 1950. The grapes ferment using only natural yeasts in enameled tanks where the wine then ages for a year. Thus, there is no oak involved in this wine.

Charcuterie, Chicken/Turkey, Duck, Hearty stew, Lamb, Mushrooms, Pork, Red Meat, Roasted Root Vegetables, Sausage, Slow-smoked Barbeque/BBQ Sauce, Tomato Sauce