Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Laurence 2014 1.5L Magnum

The 2014 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence is a sophisticated, traditional, and deeply expressive French red wine that offers superb complexity. Sourced from a cooler, wetter growing season, it highlights an authentic, rugged old-school charm rather than over-extracted fruit. It pours a beautiful garnet color with brick-red glints in the glass, lifting with a mature bouquet of dried currants, stewed plums, and wild cherries. These fruit characteristics are heavily accented by secondary and tertiary notes of worn leather, mushroom, warm brick, and dried sage. On the palate, this full-bodied wine is smooth and highly savory, delivering rustic flavors of black tea, licorice, and roasted meat dapple. Matured for an extended four years in traditional oak foudres, its fruit layer is seamlessly anchored by integrated, chalky tannins and an earthy, mineral undertow that carries through to a persistent, dry finish.

Food Pairing: Pairs beautifully with rich game and barbecue dishes, such as five-spice barbecued spare ribs, grain-fed T-bone steak, slow-braised venison curry, roasted pork belly, roasted vegetables, and aged cheeses like mature Gouda.

98 Points - Wine Enthusiast

This wine shows complexities of cocoa, leather, rose petal and earth that juxtapose mouthwatering blackberry and plum flavors. Its fruit is at the forefront but anchored by a mineral undertow that should intensify with age. It's a beauty already, framed by fine, chalky tannins. (AI)  (12/2019)

94 Points - Wine Advocate

In years in which there's no Cuvée da Capo, Feraud produces a Cuvée Laurence, which is similar to the Cuvée Reservée, but with extended aging (usually around four years) in foudre. The 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Laurence is the current release, bottled at the end of November 2018, and it's a beauty, marrying leather and cherry notes in a full-bodied but silky, easy-drinking format. (JC)  (8/2019)

91 Points - Wine Spectator

Burly in feel, with maturity to the notes of chestnut, mushroom, warm brick, dried sage and tobacco leaf that hold sway over the core of dried currant and cherry fruit flavors. The finish is streaked with cedar hints. Hamstrung a bit by this cool and wet vintage, the fruit doesn't quite keep pace with the earth and herb elements, but fans of the rugged, old-school style will appreciate this. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2030.