2000 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée- France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/15/2014)
Popped and poured to accompany burgers on the grill. Garnet color. Nose of garrigue, pepper, strawberry, thyme, lavender stalks. Striking peppery red fruit on the palate, mostly plum and strawberry, laced with garrigue and briar. Moderately acidic and surprisingly fresh and young, with resolved tannins and modest structure. Long finish of tangy red fruit with nice grip at the end. Very much alive and full of hearty pleasure. Could age a bit more but probably just past peak. (92 pts.)
Thanks for the TN, Doug. I hope they’re not “just past peak” yet. The last one I had about a year ago didn’t seem close to its apogee. I know Gerhard P posts here a lot and is and advocate of aging these much longer than I (http://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1267727#p1267727). I still have a few of these, and might visit one soon, but wasn’t in much of a hurry to finish mine based on my last tasting and based on their history.
You may well be right. I started purchasing CdP with the 1998 vintage and have no real clue how these 2000’s will age. I have had a bit more bottle variation of late regarding the 2000 Pegau, but since I have a bunch more, I hope you are correct in your thoughts.
Sorry, but this is rubbish. IF your bottle was sound this wine can age another 10-12 years - and remain on peak for further 5+y …
I had it 6 weeks ago, and it is very youthful, fullbodied and intense … can be enjoyed now, but certainly no need to hurry.
(ok, if it has been shipped, stored … not perfectly, it´s another issue …)
Count me in as someone who likes their Pegau at about 8-12yrs post vintage. I’ve had bottles older just not sure if the gain is anything other than “different”.
The 1981, 83, 85 (!), 88 … and of course 89+90 are still very fine, 81 is otherworldly and better than the Beaucastel 81 …
Even 1992 is still a joy to drink and more interesting than 5 years ago.
92, 93 - and 96 should be finished over the next years.
Vintages that should have been drunk up are 1986+87 (but still drinkable 4-5 years ago), and 1991 which was good until app. 2005 …
Unfortunately never had 1978+79 - which were still labelled “Paul Feraud” … and I´m not sure if 80/82/84 have been bottled at all - or completely sold to negociants.
In a perfect spot now, both the Reservee and the Cuvee Laurence, but no hurry until 2020 …
I love the vintage (and prefer it to the 1995, except C.Maxime).
Gerhard, the 81 Pegau, had in 2004 and 2005, is one of the greatest red wines I have ever had. I have a few of the 2000 Pegau’s left and I think they have lots of life left in them. Maybe I’ll crack one soon and post about it. Genuinely great domaine.
We had a bottle of the 2000 Pegau over the last two nights. It drank even better on the second night, suggesting that its not yet heading downhill. Our bottle showed a little band aid, but nothing excessive. It was great - spicy strawberries, complex saddle and smoke, flavored of blood and iron. The tannins are all softened up now. Maybe people who are really brett sensitive would dislike it, but I liked it more than than some of the clean, modern 2000 CNDPs we’ve had in recent months, like Grand Veneur or Paul Autard. A little murky/cloudy, but I think enthusiasts expect that. I give it a solid A. I don’t find any acidic overtones personally, but we had it with food both nights.
Nothing past peak - if we are talking about sound bottles.
Sure it depends also on your imagination of “peak” - if you think everything after “puppy fat” and “youthful fruitiness” is past … that´s simply a different point …
The 2000 Pegaü Reservee is not even on its apogee … good stored bottles will need another (estimated) 4-7 years to be really mature … although it certainly is drinkable with great pleasure.
I still think that it ultimately will be longer living that the 2001 …
Really mature vintages are (1999), 1997, 96 (very mature), 94, 93, 92, 90, 89, 88, 85, 83, 81 … past its best is 1991 and 2002, over apogee are (presumably, cause never tasted) 87, definitely 86 …