Clear, rather rich straw color. Appealing on the nose and palate, a blend of white fruit and a hint of something that reminds me of beeswax in the aroma, carrying over on the palate with good fruit – pears and green figs, maybe – with good texture, medium-bodied or a bit more so, kept in shape with tart, mouth-watering acidity. The claimed 12.5% alcohol seems surprising, as it feels a bit higher-proof, in a good way. Grown in Sorgues, near Châteauneuf-du-Pape, by the daughter of the founder of Domaine Pegau, it’s a typical Southern Rhône white blend of Clairette (40%), Bourboulenc (30%), Grenache Blanc (20%) and Ugni Blanc (10%), made with no oak and no malolactic fermentation. U.S. importer: Hand Picked Selections, Warrenton, Va. (July 12, 2015)
FOOD MATCH: This rich white wine would make a fine match with saltwater fish or richer shellfish, or grilled or roast poultry or pork; it sings with dishes made with aromatic herbs, as well as a range of hearty plant-based dishes. It was fine with a simple summer pasta of spaghetti tossed with butter, a little garlic, and minced fresh sage.
WHEN TO DRINK: It’s drinking beautifully now, and the winery recommends drinking it up within a year. I’ve found that some richer-style Southern Rhône whites can evolve in interesting ways with a few years in a good cellar, but I wouldn’t put a large investment into testing this.
VALUE: Very good wine, a good value at this price, which seems in line with U.S. retail prices listed at Wine-Searcher.com.
WEB LINKS Importer Hand Picked Selections’ fact sheet provides basic information about this wine.
The Pegau page is available in French, English, Spanish and Chinese. Here’s a link to a Cuvée Lône fact sheet in English.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Compare prices and find vendors for Château Pégau Cuvée Lône Côtes-du-Rhône on Wine-Searcher.com.
U.S. wine lovers can also find local vendors and regional distributors by clicking this map on the importer’s page.