WTN: 2000 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée

[David M. Bueker]

2000 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (10/13/2007)
Opened for some casual sipping with a freind. I had read that the wine was ready & open for business, but other folks must have warmer cellars than I do because the wine is still incredibly young. Long on deep cherry & earth, with just an accent of warm leather, it took over 6 hours for the wine to really blossom at all & even then it tasted like newly released CNdP. This wine needs lots of time. It still has tons of potential, but it's not showing even 10% of what it's got right now.

[Jenise]

What a shame that you got into this one too early. Don't you hate that?

By the way, how is this name pronounced, David? I usually say Peh-GOW, but it's probably PAY-go.

[David M. Bueker]

Everyone I know says Peh-GOW.

There's 5 more in the cellar, so it's no great loss. Beside all of my local tasting buddies have this wine in quantity as well, so I'll get to drink a few between now and 2030.

At least it wasn't one of my precious '98s. Only have 2 of those left.

Jenise, according to a French lady I ran into when I was buying a few bottles of the 2004, it is pronounced Peg-goo. that might not be right, but that is how she corrected my Peg-Gow.

[David M. Bueker]

According to Laurence Ferraud it's Peh-GOW, and she's the winemaker.

I would then guess that she knows best.

According to Laurence Ferraud it's Peh-GOW, and she's the winemaker.

That's funny: I was chatting with a J et R rep just last night and he commented (positively) on my pronunciation of it as "Peh-Goh," which he asserted is how Laurence pronounces it. In my conversations with La Belle Laurence I never thought to inquire as to the proper pronounction, but being mindful of the Provençal origin of the word (meaning some sort of clay vessel for wine) and the diacritical marks (you got them right David -- congrats!) I'd guess that it actually should be "PEH-gah-ooh." The "Peh-goh" pronunciation would just be their concession to the Francification of Provençe.

Mark Lipton

p.s. Thanks for the note. I also had recently read a favorable note on this wine's readiness, but now I'll hold off on it for another 5 years and keep my half case around.