Brent Young

9.5

Sweaty Animals? Yes please

DAY 1
👃Complex. Distinctive. Amazing. Charcoal, pepper, sweet dark cherries, smoke, barnyard, sweaty animals, earth, garrigue & violets
👅Full bodied. Complex. Balanced. Purple/red fruit, thyme, licorice & pepper. Silky. Finishes with mod+ tannic pull. Delicious
Note: With time in the glass the nose and palate lost some focus and animation. Still drinking well but probably lost 2-3 points

The remaining wine was Slow Decanted in my refrigerator

DAY 12
Slow Decanting this wine did not improve this wine. Just as with Day 1, letting the wine aerate resulted in less intensity. The wine did not develop any faults and was still a very nice glass. It just wasn’t the firecracker it was on first pour

Verdict: A fantastic wine. It was best as soon as it was poured on Day 1. I would not decant this wine or give it extra time in the glass.

Question: I have noticed this with many CdPs in the past. They do not do well with aeration. And it seems particularly true of wines with more structure. Anyone else notice this? — 10 days ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.7

Ridiculously complex and youthful. Dark and brooding. Absolutely incredible. Keeps changing in the glass. Mind boggling. Sage and bramble. I can’t stop smelling this — a month ago

with Ben and Lee

Karen Tripson

9.0

A great find by the Garagiste. — 3 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Unique Cote du Rhone red blended of wines from the 2014, 2015 & 2016 vintages and with some grape varietals not typically found in the Rhône. Blend of Grenache (30%), Syrah (20%), Merlot (20%) and other varietals (including Cabernet Sauvignon -20%). Intensely floral and herbal on the nose and pallet with intense dark fruit. Leathery finish. Hint of spice on the finish. Very savory and interesting. Not a traditional Cote du Rhone or CDP. Good stuff — 3 days ago

Gregg G

9.5

Recent notes suggested this wine was declining and the fruit fading.This was cause for concern as have a few of these I’ve been patiently cellaring. Well, I’m very happy to report this bottle, a Martine’s import, was stellar. To my palate, the wine is in a perfect place. Tertiary aromas and flavors dominate. Very complex aromas of sous bois, herbs de provence, wet saddle and red fruits. The palate is vivid and lively. Extraordinary depth and length that never faded. I can’t say enough great things about this wine. There’s no chance this bottle was fading or won’t last several more years. I don’t think it can improve as it’s almost perfection right now. Simply a stunner. — a month ago

with Conrad

Rob N

9.1

Tart, crisp apple. A little tough following up the Arcadian. — 3 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Delicious. Nicely aged. Dried herbs, iodine, garrigue, deep brooding fruit. That perfect mix of age and fruit. Delicious — a month ago

with Gregg

Lars Miller

9.0

Spicy, earthy, fruity nose upon opening. A little dry, slight tannins, and nicely balanced. Coffee and fruit on the palate. As usual, Pegau does things a little differently, and this is so them. Very distinctive and smooth. — 24 days ago

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Drinking well. — 8 days ago

with David

Jay Kline

9.4

I had a few members of the Tasting Group crew join me in a sort of, "help me drink down my cellar" gathering. Everyone had an opportunity to dig through the cellar and select a bottle of their choosing; the identity of the wine was kept from everyone else and then presented double-blind though, since the bottles were being pulled from my cellar, it wasn't a true double-blind situation for me. This was poured into a decanter and served within two hours of opening. The wine poured a deep ruby, bordering garnet color and slightly turbid. On the nose, it was immediately apparent that this was a vinous wine with abundant ripe red and black fruits some of which came across bruised and desiccated. Along with the fruit was a striking smell of barnyard funk, pipe tobacco, leather, and exotic spices. On the palate, the wine was dry and the fruit set was more or less confirmed. The fruit was gorgeous, fully mature and the finish was long and savory. The tannins were pretty well integrated. Plenty of acid to keep everything afloat. I was headed to the Rhone based off the evidence, something with age and probably from a traditional producer in Chateauneuf du Pape. Due to the color, signs of sediment, abundance of dried fruit and the strong presence of secondary characteristics, I figured this was at least 15 years old from a warmer vintage. After thinking, I called 2005 Pegau. After drinking the 2005 Pegau later, I don't hate my call. This wine is singing and will likely last for at least another decade. — 5 months ago