Notes:

As for the Domaine du Pegau estate wines, the 2006 Chateauneuf du PapeCuvee Reservee was tasted from multiple foudres, and appears to bebetter than the 2005 and 2004. The 2006 exhibits gamy, meaty, newsaddle leather, kirsch liqueur, black currant, pepper, lavender, andspice notes. The wine is full-bodied, rich, deep, and long. One foudre,which may become a Cuvee Laurence, appears to be of the same quality asthe Cuvee Reservee, but the Laurence will be bottled much later thanthe Reservee, which was about to be bottled at the time of my visit inlate August. RP 92-94

The inimitable Feraud family, true guardians ofthe most traditional style of Provence and several Rhone appellations,is increasingly spearheaded by daughter Laurence, but her charismaticfather, Paul, is always on the scene, with her mother, running theoffice. While Pegaus expanding production should be carefully watched,the talent is certainly there. Forgetting the estate wines, there arethree levels of quality and price, including a new Tetra Pak in a literpackage that is quite good. There are also the Selection LaurenceFeraud, a negociant line of wines, and a second negociant line-up soldunder the moniker Feraud-Brunel, which Laurence oversees along withAndre Brunel. 2007 is an undeniably great vintage for the Feraud wines.