Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee 2020

The 2020 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée is a beautifully expressive, vibrant, and classically structured French red wine that highlights the remarkable freshness and elegance of the 2020 vintage. It pours a deep, dark ruby-purple color in the glass, lifting with an alluring bouquet of ripe black cherries, dark plums, and fresh raspberries, seamlessly layered with complex undertones of lavender garrigue, licorice, wood smoke, and cured meats. On the palate, this full-bodied wine is rich and fruit-forward, coating the mouth with a smooth, velvety texture and pure intensities of dark stone fruits and cracked black pepper. Patiently matured for up to two years in traditional oak foudres, it balances its rich concentration with a bright, food-friendly acidity and a firm frame of fine-grained, well-integrated tannins, transitioning into a long, beautifully polished, and savory finish.

Food Pairing: Pairs beautifully with roasted leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary, slow-braised beef short ribs, grilled ribeye steak with herb butter, wild boar ragù, roasted duck breast, and mature cheeses like Stilton blue cheese or aged Gouda.

98 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

I was even more impressed by the 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée than the 2019. Boasting crazily complex floral scents, garrigue, raspberries and cherries, this is one incredibly perfumed example of Pegau. Medium to full-bodied, silky, elegant and long, this is quintessential Pegau.

96 Points - James Suckling

A layered and well-balanced Chateauneuf-du-Pape with aromas of wild berries, dried herbs, leather, roasted meat and stones. It’s full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Lots of layers and poise with a restrained character on the palate, despite the generous nature of the vintage. Complex and velvety with lots of cherry character and dried herbs towards the finish. Funnelled and structured with great focus and length. Better after 2025.

92 Points - Wine Spectator

An earthy, throwback style, with wet earth and forest floor notes overlaying flavors of red plum. Offers a nice core of chewy fruit pierced with iodine, black pepper and mineral elements, all held in place by chunky tannins. This has a lot to like, but with a hint of Brettanomyces, so for fans of the old-school style. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2035.