2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvée Da Capo, Rouge, Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée da Capo is, we very much hope, nothing to do with the Mafia, rather it is a single foudre of no specific provenance, which is selected only in exceptional years (2009, amazingly, did not make the cut) and aged for significantly longer than the Reservée. The resulting wine is often seen as the very best in the appellation. The 2010 is tighter than the Reservée, unsurprisingly, but behind the brooding beast there is an impressive fruit character….,the sweet and the savoury are rehearsing their pas de deux which will be sure to impress even the strictest of judges.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer, February 2012

One must always expect the unexpected chez Pegau. This time we were greeted by a disembodied voice, seemingly from a distant echo chamber. It turned out that Laurence was cleaning out a foudre, from the inside, and had overlooked our arrival time. This hands-on approach is typical of an extraordinarily energetic vigneronne, who has risen to the very top by a winning and somewhat paradoxical combination of dogged determination and sheer hard work, flavoured with a dose of humility. Pegau is now seen as the very best of the ‘traditional’ Châteauneuf wines, most eloquently illustrated by the 2010s.

Pegau

Ch Pegau, Da Capo 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape - This sélection parcellaire is made only in superior vintages (2000, 2003 and 2007 in the last decade). It's aged for more than two years in foudres. Extremely sweet and lively. Racy, dense, notable tannins, extremely vivacious. Long and very rich indeed, even though the residual sugar is actually less than 1 g/l apparently. A loud wine.
(Jancis Robinson & Julia Harding MW - www.jancisrobinson.com - 20 Dec 2011)

While no 2009 Cuvee da Capo was produced, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo was produced primarily from the old vines they own in the famed La Crau sector. To be bottled after spending 18 months in old wood foudres, the 2010 is another gorgeous effort.

Its deep black/plum color is accompanied by sweet notes of chocolate-covered figs, kirsch, black currants, cedar, smoked meats and charcuterie. Very intense with enormous texture, massive fruit, moderate tannin and a long finish, the vintage’s acids are present, but beautifully integrated. This bigger than life wine should easily evolve for three decades or more. Stylistically, it resembles the 1998 Capo more than the 2000, 2003 or 2007.

One of the bastions of traditionalism in Chateauneuf du Pape is Domaine de Pegau, long owned by the Feraud family, and now run by the charming, talented Laurence, who was exceptionally well-schooled by her father, Paul. This nearly 50-acre estate fashions some of the longest-lived, most interesting wines of the appellation.

The success they have enjoyed with their estate wines has allowed the Ferauds to branch out with a small negociant operation that includes selections Laurence makes through her contacts in the southern Rhone as well as wines she co-producers with another Chateauneuf du Pape name well-known for high quality, Andre Brunel
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate #197 Oct 2011)