CNP da capo 2016 - domaine du Pegau (mag. 1.5 l)

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Da Capo 2016 — Domaine du Pégau

This Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Da Capo 2016 from Domaine du Pégau, offered here in magnum 1.5 L, belongs among the rarest and most sought-after cuvées of the southern Rhône. Produced only in the greatest vintages, Da Capo expresses the depth of old vines from La Crau and the majestic power of Grenache: black cherry, plum, blackberry, fig, dense raspberry, liquorice, chocolate, anise, black tea, smoked tobacco, spice and a very long mineral finish.

An emblematic cuvée of Domaine du Pégau, Da Capo is a parcel selection from La Crau, made from a traditional blend of the thirteen grape varieties of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with a majority of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The 2016 is an exceptional vintage in the appellation: it gives a wine of remarkable intensity, broad, velvety, deep and powerful, yet retaining striking elegance and finesse despite its richness.

Terroir: La Crau, old vines and siliceous sands

Cuvée Da Capo comes from a parcel selection in La Crau, one of the most famous sectors of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Domaine du Pégau describes it as the expression of old vines, sometimes centenarian, planted on a terroir of siliceous sands. This origin gives the cuvée a rare combination of depth, generosity, fine tannins and southern character.

The traditional blend of the thirteen grape varieties of Châteauneuf-du-Pape adds complexity: Grenache brings flesh, richness and solar fruit; Syrah adds colour, spice and structure; Mourvèdre reinforces depth, grip and darker nuances. In the 2016, the terroir translates into a dense, spicy, savoury and mineral wine, with a long finish and a chalky grip that is perfectly integrated.

Tasting notes

Appearance: deep ruby with garnet and purple reflections, dense, bright and still very sustained. In magnum, evolution should remain slow, with the colour preserving intensity, dark brilliance and depth for a long time.

Nose: intensely perfumed, deep and complex, with black cherry, kirsch-like cherry, plum, blackberry, dense raspberry, boysenberry, candied fig, liquorice, warm anise, black tea and smoked tobacco. With aeration, nuances of chocolate, noble game, candied lavender, exotic spices, cola, spice cake, soft leather and Mediterranean herbs may appear.

Palate: full, broad, velvety and extremely concentrated, with impressive richness but very fine texture. Flavours of black cherry, plum, raspberry, fig, chocolate, anise, liquorice and tobacco unfold in successive layers, supported by dense yet integrated tannins. The finish is almost endless, juicy, spicy, freshly mineral and carried by a chalky grip that balances the generosity of the fruit.

Expression of the 2016 vintage

The 2016 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of the great recent vintages, marked by full ripeness, natural richness and enough freshness to balance the power. For Da Capo, the year gives a wine of superior intensity, with waves of black cherry, plum, chocolate and candied fruits, but also remarkable elegance, fine tannins and exceptional length.

Today, this Da Capo 2016 in magnum remains young for its level of concentration. It can already impress after careful aeration, but its true horizon is long ageing. With time, the black and candied fruits should evolve towards more fine leather, truffle, tobacco, garrigue, melted spices, cocoa, forest floor and mineral complexity, while preserving the broad and velvety signature of the domaine.