Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Laurence 2017

The 2017 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence is a sophisticated, deeply complex, and traditional French red wine of incredible character, essentially representing an extended wood-aged selection of the estate's flagship Cuvée Réservée. It pours a dark ruby-garnet color with subtle ochre brightening on the rim in the glass. The nose lifts with an enveloping, warm, and highly expressive bouquet of ripe red cherries, dark berries, and plum, seamlessly integrated with complex layers of dried rose, graphite, tobacco, and smoked bacon fat. On the palate, this full-bodied wine is juicy, earthy, and fruit-forward, delivering concentrated layers of sweet cherry fruit, nougat, licorice, and peppery herbs. Patiently matured for up to four years in traditional oak foudres before bottling, it balances its powerful richness with a fresh acidity and firm, stunningly fine tannins, transitioning into a long, mineral-driven finish marked by exotic spices and a distinct savory undertone.

97 Points - James Suckling

Enveloping, warm and spicy nose with an extremely wide spectrum of aromas, ranging from dried rose to graphite via thyme and smoked bacon. Very powerful, concentrated and earthy, yet there’s brightness in there that makes it shine, Stunningly fine tannins power the super-long finish. Drink or hold.

95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

 The 2017 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Laurence was set to be bottled in November 2021, just after my visit. It boasts restrained aromas of leather, plum and garrigue but compensates for the slightly more sedate aromatics with a supple, complete and rounded feel on the palate. It's full-bodied, silky and long, ready to drink on release or anytime over the next decade and a half. My tastings during my evening visit to Domaine du Pegau included a number of other wines, both from Chateau Pegau and Selection Laurence Feraud. Those will be included in my follow-up coverage of other appellations of the Southern Rhône. For this report, I've focused on the current and upcoming releases from the property itself.

92 Points - Wine Spectator

Time has softened the edges of this elegant, earthy, well-built red. Slightly old-school in style, with incense, forest floor, smoked meat and iodine layered over mulled raspberry and red tea. Beautifully textured, with present tannins holding firm on the dry finish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.