2009 Rhone en primeur: Pegau

16/02/11

"Always one of my favorite places to visit" - Robert Parker

No one makes better traditional Chateauneuf than Laurence Feraud. In the 2009, she's just made one of her most traditional wines for some time. It's a bit wild - there's lots of spiciness - with gamey, black fruits, but also lovely rich texture. 80% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 4% Mourvedre and 2% other varieties, Laurence describes this as a 'great' vintage for Pegau, like a mix of 1999 and 2005.

'The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee has not yet been bottled, but Paul and Laurence Feraud allowed me to taste all the major lots, and I rated all of them between 92 and 95 points. It is another big wine, but there will not be any Capo produced in 2009 according to Laurence. The regular 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape is a peppery, spicy effort with lots of unctuosity, elevated alcohol and firm tannins which Paul believes will soften with the long aging in foudre this wine sees. Big and beefy, it appears to be a better balanced, richer version of their 2005 Cuvee Reservee. 92-95 points' - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, October 2010

It's no secret among southern Rhone fans that 2009's successor is another fabulous vintage. Already bottled and on its way is 2010 Pegau Blanc - the first time we've shipped Laurence's white. 60% Grenache Blanc, 20% Clairette and 10 each Bourboulenc and Roussanne, this is fresh yet richly flavoured, to drink in the next year or two or cellar - with patience! And another Uncorked first: Font de Pegau. Confusingly, this title is also used for a lesser wine from fruit bought from other sources. Ours, of course, is the good one. 100% Domaine du Pegau, it comes from three vineyards close to Chateauneuf but not eligible for the appellation - 1ha along the Rhone river, 2ha near Beaucastel and 3ha of Carignan 7km from Chateauneuf. Arriving soon with the Reservee Blanc, this batch is a delicious blend of 2007/08/09 made from equal proportions of Merlot and Syrah blended with Grenache and Carignan. Drink it immediately or over the next two or three years - it actually tastes like Pegau! /AR

View all 2009 Rhones listed so far

Thursday 24 February
2009 Rhone barrel sample tasting at our Bishopsgate shop, 12-8pm, walkaround, £25 per person inc VAT (redeemable against 2009 Rhone en primeur purchases)

Offered subject to remaining unsold for shipment winter 2011/12