Back Up the Truck
The Best CdP Value... Ever??
2008 Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Cuvée Réservée
Sub-$30 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
"I have long been a huge fan of this estate, and have put my money where my mouth is, having purchased all of Pégau’s vintages since 1979." -Robert Parker
For Rhône-aficionados, for value hunters, this may be the best Châteauneuf deal we’ve ever seen. We're looking at Chateauneuf at Cotes du Rhones prices.
Pégau is, year in and year out, one of Châteauneuf's top producers. Their Cuvée Reservée is a classic, benchmark Châteauneuf that typically trades in the $50-60 range, although the recent exceptional '09 and '10 vintages go for $70+ and $80+, respectively.
At under $30, there is only one phrase that comes to mind today: "Back Up the Truck!"
There's no point mincing words: 2008 was a difficult vintage. It remains a misunderstood vintage. Sandwiched between the blockbuster 07 and 09 vintages, 08 got lost in the mix. The upside is that this vintage opens a SERIOUS value.
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And, of course, simplistic vintage generalizations very often don't hold to deeper scrutiny - especially when you're dealing with a producer like Pégau.
Parker is very quick to note that: "this estate has an incredible track record in off years, so I would not be surprised to see this wine exceeding readers’ expectations in 10-12 years."
Pégau is rock solid, and already, the best bottles of the 2008 vintage are being reconsidered. Where the unctuous, massive, textural 07s and 09s need to be served with a fork and knife, 2008 is a more classic vintage. This is a Pégau with lift and brightness - the Burgundy comparison might seem too easy, but it's true.
The truth is, at least for Pégau's Reservée, 2008 is a lovely vintage, more restrained, less textural, yet this allows mineral nuances and herbal notes to share the stage with dark and spicy cassis notes.
As Parker says: This is one of the best of the vintage.
2008 is also an accessible vintage. There is no reason to delay popping the cork, as this is ready for the bright lights now. Given the accessibility and pricing, making this a "house wine" to pull corks whenever you feel like it seems like a very smart move.
We couldn't think of a better way to close out the summer. This is the best value we've seen all year. Our advice is to stock up.
To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Robert Schagrin
Managing Partner
Crush Wine & Spirits