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2005 Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Laurence

Chateauneuf du Pape, Southern Rhone, FRANCE
$350. 00
Bottle
$4200.00 Dozen
Closure: Cork

The inimitable Feraud family, true guardians of the most traditional style of Provence and several Rhone appellations, is increasingly spearheaded by daughter Laurence, but her charismatic father, Paul, is always on the scene, with her mother, running the office. While Pegau’s expanding production should be carefully watched, the talent is certainly there. Forgetting the estate wines, there are three levels of quality and price, including a new Tetra Pak in a liter package that is quite good. There are also the Selection Laurence Feraud, a negociant line of wines, and a second negociant line-up sold under the moniker Feraud-Brunel, which Laurence oversees along with Andre Brunel. 2007 is an undeniably great vintage for the Feraud wines.

The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Laurence appears to be the finest example of this wine since the 1998. Wonderfully rich, concentrated notes of roasted Provencal herbs, jammy black cherries, new saddle leather, and loamy soil are present in this stunningly rich, full-bodied wine. With excellent concentration, moderate tannin, and fabulous length as well as intensity, it should be released in 2009-2010, and will keep for 20-25 years.
95-97 points
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate