DOMAINE DU PEGAU, France

The name Pegau (old Provencal word for a wine jug found in the excavations of the 14th century Popes Palace in Avignon) was created in 1987, when Laurence Feraud after her wine studies went home to help her father Paul Feraud at the domaine. Paul always talk about Laurence as "le chef", but he is an experienced winemaker himself. The property has belonged to the family for several generations. From 1986 Paul Feraud started bottling of wine and sold it under the mark Domaine Feraud.

Today father and daughter have made Pegau to one of the best wines in Chateauneuf du Pape. They have 17 ha. with red varieties and 1 ha. with white grapes. The 11 parcels are spread around the appellation and gives different wines, which after the blending result in a very distinct wine, a true classic Chateuneuf du Pape. In the fields organic methods are used

The red Cuvéé Réservée is a blend of 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre, Counoise and other varieties. The grapes are fermented without being de-stemmed. The wine is aged for around 18 months in old oak foudres. No filtration is carried out. The Cuvée Laurence is the same wine as the Cuvée Réservée but is kept in wooden cask for another 18-24 months before being bottled. A tiny amount of another special cuvée Cucée da Capo is made in same way as Cuvée Laurence but from the very best wine from the cellar.

These wines has to be cellared for some years. Cuvée Réservée for 5-7 years an the other cuvées longer. It is not unsusual that they have an alcolhol percent above 16o. They can all be kept for many years especially in good vintages.