2003 Domaine du Pégaü "Cuvée Reservée" Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Close to my 12th bottle of the 2003 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée and this was one of the more tight and compact bottles. The aromas are dense and pure with stunning cassis and dark fruit intermixed with licorice, meat and leather notes. The palate is full bodied, amazingly tannic and structured with gorgeous fruit, texture and length. If I had to pick just one wine to drink, this would be it. Drink now-2028 (JebDunnuck.com) (11/2008)

Starting with the 2003 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Reservée, this wine showed spectacularly on release, closed down for a few years, and has now emerged, at close to full maturity, and is straight-up fabulous. Out of the entire tasting, it remained my favorite. Giving up gorgeous blackberry, currants, garrigue, pepper and beef blood, it hits the palate with a massive, full-bodied texture that carries layers of sweet fruit, awesome concentration and blockbuster length. Tasting like the essence of both this estate and the terroir, it’s an incredible wine that I’m happy to taste/drink anytime. It will continue to evolve gracefully, but I see no reason to delay gratification. (JD) (8/2014)

Offers aromas of freshly crushed plum and blackberry with a Port-like headiness, then pumps out dark berry fruit, bramble, licorice, tar and pain d'épices flavors before a flitter of game and garrigue on the finish. Dense and muscular, but also luxurious. Best from 2008 through 2030. *Highly Recommended - #5 of Top 100 Wines of 2006* (JM) (6/2006)

Dark violet color. Rich, spicy and sweet on the nose, with cherry and blackberry fruit aromas complicated by exotic Asian spices, fresh meat and espresso. This is wonderfully thick, even viscous, but the overall impression is fresh, not tiring, with deep flavors of berries, cherry, dark plum, licorice, garrigue and coffee candy. Expands and puts on weight with aeration, finishing with fully buffered, round tannins. This packs 15.5% alcohol but betrays no heat. (JR) (6/2006)