Château Pégau Côtes du Rhône Villages 'Cuvée Setier'

Château Pégau Côtes du Rhône Villages ‘Cuvée Setier’

WHY WE LOVE IT

  • “Setier” was an ancient measure used for both grain and wine, in this case, the term specifically refers to a stone vessel that held 66 liters of wine.
  • Sourced from vines averaging 35 to 60 years in age, planted in stony soils similar to those found in Châteauneuf‐du‐Pape. Yields of 3 tons/acre.
  • Vegan approved.

Varietal Composition: 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre.

Elaboration: No de-stemming. Varietals were vinified together. Spontaneous fermentation of 10-14 days using native yeasts, with 2 pump-overs per day. Delicately pressed and kept in enamel tanks until bottling. Unoaked.

Tasting Notes: Offers a concentrated nose of cassis, licorice, black cherry and tar, with ripe, well‐structured tannins, intense fruit, and a long, lingering finish.

PRESS

2016 – 90 Wine Spectator | 90-92 Jeb Dunnuck | 92 Wine Advocate

2017 – 91-94 Wine Advocate

2019 – 92 Jeb Dunnuck

PRODUCER BACKGROUND

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.

Print Review Shelf Talker (2019 – 92 Jeb Dunnuck)