Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservée 2016 750ml

Domaine du Pegau, run by Laurence Féraud, makes some of Châteauneuf-du-Pape's most traditional and soulful wines, and the Cuvée Réservée is its flagship. 2016 is one of the great modern vintages in the southern Rhône, and Jeb Dunnuck awarded this 98 points, likening it to a fresher version of the estate's famed 2003. Dark ruby-plum in color, it bursts with garrigue, lavender, violets, kirsch, plum and Asian spice. The palate is full, ripe and opulent yet elegantly balanced, with silky tannins and a seamless texture. Dunnuck called it "another magical wine" from Féraud. Drinking beautifully now, it should continue to shine into the early 2040s.