Verkostungsnotiz 27.09.2004:

Pegau Vertikale

1/1	1994 Pegau, Laurence, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Medium brilliant garnet, light rim, fat tears. Decent dark berries in the nose, mature, spicy. Medium to slim body, fruit nearly gone, bit coarse smoky tannins, bit of acidity. Long finish, tannins persistent. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 5 for overall = total score of 87
1/2	1988 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Light ruby, brilliant, fat tears. Cool decadent nose, moss, fruit reference to a Sauvignon Blanc. Medium to slim body, bit flat, fruit rather gone, nearly no noticeable acidity, some tannins. Long finish, tannins fine persistent. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 15 for taste + 5 for overall = total score of 86
1/3	1983 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Brilliant medium garnet, fat tears. Mature fruit in the nose, some liquorice, rather decent. Medium body, slightly rotten fruit, juvenile impression, low acidity, plums, velvety tannins. Medium finish, slightly rotten fruit in the aftertaste. Maybe a not perfect bottle. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 6 for overall = total score of 88
1/4	1994 Pegau, Laurence, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Brilliant medium garnet, tears nearly static in the glass, very high viscosity. Hint of yoghurt, rather juvenile nose, bit red fruit. Medium body, dark fruit nearly gone, bit acidity, strong tannins, fine smoky. Long finish, smoky persistent tannins. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 89
2/1	1995 Pegau, Laurence, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Medium brilliant garnet, fat tears. Whiff of barnyard, white pepper, austere herbs in the nose. Medium body, soft fruity acidity, bit tickling decent tannins. Finish fine velvety acidity. A Pegau with some acidity - I like this. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 91
2/2	1998 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Light ruby, brilliant, fat tears. Soft fat fruit in the nose, bit yoghurt, cool. Medium body, dark fruit, slightly chemical tongue coating. Medium finish. Damaged bottle? Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 14 for taste + 4 for overall = total score of 83
2/3	1998 Pegau, Laurence, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Very brilliant medium ruby, medium tears. Sweet wood in the nose, smooth and soft, bit perfumed. Medium body, beautiful dark fruit, sappy, decent acidity very well balanced with tannins. Long and very fine smoky finish. Very attractive. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 94
2/4	1995 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Medium garnet, brilliant, medium tears. Yoghurt, coffee, mocca in the nose, cacao. Medium to slim body, very well balanced, silky even glossy, very decent fruit, acidity and tannins excellent balanced. Very long fine smoky finish. This reminds me of a very fine Guigal La Ladonne. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 9 for overall = total score of 95
3/1	1996 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Light garnet, brilliant, medium tears. Mature nose, lots of spices. Medium body, tickling red fruit, trace of caramel. Aftertaste with furry tongue tip, long, slightly bitter alcoholic in the end. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 89
3/2	1993 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Brilliant ruby, fat. Bit tired dark alcoholic fruit in the nose. Plump body, intense red and dark fruit, bit alcoholic. Long finish, hot velvety tannins. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 6 for overall = total score of 88
3/3	1992 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Medium ruby, brilliant, medium tears. Very fine nose, light roasted coffee beans. Plump body, bit hot, alcoholic dark fruit. Long finish, hot velvety. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 91
3/4	1981 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Light garnet, very fat tears. Cool alcoholic nose, bit red fruit, slightly port note, lovage, parsley - clearly an older vintage. Full body, massive tannins, some acidity, bit of red fruit, note of caramel, very alcoholic. Very long finish, very fine acidity, velvety tannins. Thanks to the acidity this is a very fine wine despite its alcoholic touch. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 91
3/5	1997 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Brilliant garnet, fat tears. Soft red fruit in the nose, raspberry, smoky tannins, yoghurt note. Plump body, massive fine tannins, bit of red fruit. Extremely long finish, very fine lingering tannins. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92. Remark after uncovering: Finest bottle of Pegau 1997 for me so far, pristine bottle
4/1	2001 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Light brilliant ruby, fat tears. Rooty yoghurt in the nose, austere spicy, cool, very young. Plump body, intense dark fruit, nice acidity, menthol. Medium long finish, fruity velvety. Could get a very nice wine with a more developed nose. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92
4/2	2000 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Brilliant light ruby, fat tears. Warm slightly velvety fruit, bit alcohol, decent. Plump body, intense dark fruit, sappy, bit alcoholic. Long finish, velvety persistent tannins. Could become great with more resolved fruit. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92
4/3	2000 Pegau, Laurence, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Brilliant ruby, fat tears. Restrained dark fruity nose, very velvety, bit cool. Plump body, intense red and dark fruit, massive tannins, bit of fruity acidity, slightly alcoholic. Very long finish, fruity acidity and fine massive tannins. Head spinning alcohol not completely tamed by acidity, would else be a great wine. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 9 for overall = total score of 94. Remark after disclosure: For the first time the concept of Laurence (same wine as Reservée but longer in cask to mature faster) seems evident to me.
4/4	1999 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Brilliant light ruby, fat tears. Very decent dark fruity nose, bit cool, ascending alcohol. Plump body, very concentrated dark fruit, some acidity, very alcoholic, massive velvety tannins. Very long finish, fine mouth impregnating tannins, bit hot. Alcoholic touch a bit annoying. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 93
5/1	1989 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Brilliant medium ruby, fat tears. Slight barnyard, sweet dark fruit, ascending alcohol. Medium body, hot alcoholic dark fruit, sappy, fine acidity, fine tannins. Long and soft velvety finish. Nice wine despite the alcoholic touch. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 93
5/2	1989 Pegau, Laurence, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Brilliant medium ruby, fat tears. Wet cardboard nose, dark fruit, pungent ascending alcohol, cesspool. Intense dark fruit, potential nice but bad bottle. No score.
5/3	1990 Pegau, Laurence, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Brilliant medium ruby, fat tears. Soft vanilla in the nose, very smooth, bit cool. Medium body, fine acidity, nice red fruit, fine tannins. Medium finish, fine velvety. Great wine not in terms of size but of pleasure. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 91
5/4	1990 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Brilliant medium ruby, medium tears. Slightly spicy nose, black pepper, cool ascending alcohol. Full to medium body, very spicy, intense fruity acidity, mouth impregnating tannins. Long finish, smoky persistent tannins. Great wine, enough acidity to tame the alcohol, gives a lot of pleasure. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 9 for overall = total score of 95
5/5	1985 Pegau, Reservée, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Brilliant medium ruby, medium tears. Decent spearmint, bit cool, fine cool white pepper fruit, bit of lovage (this is old). Plump body, sweet dark fruit, rum punch, some acidity, fierce tannins. Long finish, fruity velvety tannins. Rum punch note is a bit disturbing, else top wine. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 93
6/1	2000 Pegau, Da Capo, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Dark brilliant ruby, fat tears. Yoghurt, fine velvety, decent fruit in the nose. Plump body, slightly tickling red fruit, rather alcoholic, some acidity, massive tannins, mouth impregnating. Long finish, fine tannins. Nice wine, nose will improve over time. Alcohol not completely balanced by acidity. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92
6/2	1997 Pegau, Justine, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Medium brilliant garnet, dense tears. Bit dusty nose after red fruits, hint of lime. Full body, massive alcoholic, caramelised red fruit, only a minimum of acidity, fierce but velvety tannins. Long finish, massive mouth impregnating tannins, head spinning. Bit too much alcohol for me. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92
6/3	1995 Pegau, Maxim, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Dark brilliant ruby, fat tears. Very soft silky dark fruit in the nose. Full to plump body, intense succulent dark fruit, on the limit to nauseous, massive tannins. Long finish, severe mouth impregnating tannins. This wine is clearly on the limit for me. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 94
6/4	1998 Pegau, Da Capo, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: Dark brilliant ruby, fat tears. Juvenile vulgar fruit in the nose, sweet and concentrated. Full body, extreme elderberry, brandy like alcoholic. Long finish, brandy note, ever lasting tannins. Kind of dry Banyuls, far over the limit for me: This is a violent attack on my tasting buds. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 6 for overall = total score of 89

Tasting organised by Gerhard Präsent.

26 wines from 1981 to 2001:

Cuvée Reservée: 80% Grenache, 16% Syrah, rest 11 different varietals. 18-20 months in foudres

Cuvée Laurence: Same wine but 36-42 months in foudres and smaller casks

Cuvée Da Capo: From La Grau and Montpertuis, 24-36 months in cask

Cuvée Maxim 1995 and Justine 1997: Similar to Da Capo but made only once

Single blind in flights of 4 to 5 wines, order of wines predefined by the organiser, not by chance.

Wine Star Chardonnay glasses similar to ISO standard tasting glass.

Decanted shortly before tasting (with exception of Cuvée Maxim 1995: Decanted 4 hours before tasting).

Slightly controversial discussion about Da Capo 1998 – at least some participants rated it as perfect wine with a score of 100 points (knowing what they were drinking despite the formal blind tasting setup, because the last wine had to be the “biggest” name and it is also rather easy to recognise because of its unusual alcoholic touch – so it is hard to ignore what you “know” about this wine).

2004-09-30/Wilfried Knapp