Pegau, Chateauneuf Du Pape Reservee

Pegau, Chateauneuf Du Pape ReserveeOne of my favorite wines, the 2012 Chteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Rserve is a classic. Beautiful on the nose, with notions of ground pepper, wild herbs, minerality and smoked plum and dark fruit, it s medium to full bodied, nicely concentrated and has plenty of tannin that comes through on the finish. Similar in style to a lighter weight 2010, drink this beauty anytime over the coming 12 15 years.

backward and brooding nose reluctantly gives up hints of very earthy dark pinot fruit nuanced by a distinct animale hint that merges into broad-shouldered flavors that offer excellent volume and concentration that finishes with just a hint of dryness and plenty of minerality

lemongrass

but with good balancing acidity

Readers can check out notes on those wines in my recent feature on the estate posted on www

Harmonious and extremely long

It's ripe but without the perfect ripeness of a great vintage

-- Neal Martin

97 ha parcel of 40 year old vines and 50% new wood)

opulently textured

a fine bead of acidity and good weight

It has character

Great care was required to keep the leaves and the clusters healthy