2006 Domaine du Pégaü "Cuvée Réservée" Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Pre-Arrival)

94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Saturated red. Impressively complex scents of red and dark berries, cherry, leather and garrigue, with smoky minerals and dried flowers adding interest. Juicy raspberry and blackcurrant flavors pack serious punch and are seriously concentrated but there's a real elegance to this wine. Licorice and candied flowers echo on the long, sappy finish. This looks to be as good as the superb 2005 today." (Jan/Feb 2009) 92-94 points Robert Parker: "As for the Domaine du Pegau estate wines, the 2006 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee was tasted from multiple foudres, and appears to be better than the 2005 and 2004. The 2006 exhibits gamy, meaty, new saddle leather, kirsch liqueur, black currant, pepper, lavender, and spice 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 as the Cuvee Reservee, but the Laurence will be bottled much later than the Reservee, which was about to be bottled at the time of my visit in late August." (10/08) 93 points Wine Spectator: 'Ripe and very packed, delivering fig, macerated currant, bittersweet cocoa, roasted chestnut and tar notes. The long finish flows nicely, with lots of buried [i]garrigue[n] and incense hints carried by fresh acidity. Drink now through 2027." (06/09) 91 points Wine Enthusiast. ETA End of 2009.