Chateau Pegau Côtes-du-rhône Blanc Lone (organic)
JM Arnoux Vieux Clocher Vacqueyras (organic)
Chateau Pegau Côtes-du-rhône Blanc Lone (organic)
In 2012, Châteauneuf-du-Pape icons Paul and Laurence Féraud purchased a 100+ acre estate in Sorgues, and renamed it Château Pégau. It is an exceptional terroir situated less than 4 miles southeast of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Loaded with classic Côtes du Rhône fruit and spice, the wines retain the hallmark stamp and identity of Pégau.
It consists of 148 acres and a large rundown Chateau of 10,000 square feet. The vineyards include 62 acres of Cotes du Rhone Villages and 12 acres of Cotes du Rhone, with the balance Vin de Table. Laurence bought it and rechristened it Château Pégau. For the first vintage, she and Paul learning their way, they declassified most of the Villages to Cotes du Rhone. The red Côtes du Rhône carries the name Château Pégau Cuvée Maclura. The Cotes du Rhone Villages (15% of the production) is Chateau Pégau Cuvée Setier. These are complemented by a white Cotes du Rhone, Château Pégau Cuvée Lône. The wines are emphatically not Chateauneuf-du-Pape, nor are they priced that way. However yields have been kept to the absurdly low limits permitted in Chateauneuf, and the wines have all of the density of that great Appellation.
40% Clairette, 30% Bourboulenc, 20% Grenache Blanc, 10% Ugni Blanc
Cuvée Lône offers fresh melon, pear, and jasmine on the deeply scented nose. Fleshy and broad but lively as well, offering juicy honeydew and orchard fruit flavors given spine by a zesty mineral quality. Shows very good intensity and power on the finish, which hangs on with tenacity and suave floral notes.
JM Arnoux Vieux Clocher Vacqueyras (organic)
Marc and Jean-Francois Arnoux are the newest generation at this traditional Domaine that sits next door to the old Vacqueyras church.
The family’s history in Vacqueyras dates back to 1731, and vineyard holdings are now 100 acres in total, with additional volume supplemented with growing partners who have supplied the family for decades. The family property extends over the plateau of the Garrigues in the west of the appellation, extending to Chateauneuf du Pape. Essentially constituted by clay-red limestone soils with river rocks (galets). Its great particularity lies in its galets, which release the heat stored during the day, thus allowing the grapes to ripen optimally. These soils are favorable to low yields of grapes with a high concentration of tannins and aromas.
Deep purple color with mauve highlights and its powerful fruity fragrances sprinkled with spice. All the intensity of the nose may be found in mouth, on a background structured by healthy tannins full of masculinity and packed in a full body. The finish is long and opens some late pepper touches that define its specificity.
90 points Vinous: Deep ruby. Powerful dark berry, licorice, and cola aromas unfold slowly with air, taking on hints of cracked pepper and herbs. Chewy and tightly focused, offering bitter cherry and blackberry flavors and a touch of earthiness. Building tannins add grip to the nicely persistent finish, which echoes the licorice and cherry notes. All foudres.
70% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre