Domaine du Pegau

The story of Domaine du Pégau begins as far back as the 17th century, when the Féraud family planted their first vines in the southern Rhône. For many years, however, the family sold their grapes to other wine estates.

Paul Féraud was the first within the family to begin making his own wine, a significant step from grape grower to producer. Initially this happened on a very small scale, with a production of around 2,000 bottles per year. It was his daughter Laurence Féraud who would ultimately elevate the estate to a higher level. Having completed her studies at the Wine & Spirits Business School in 1987, Laurence returned to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and proposed to her father that they establish a family domaine.

Together they registered the name Domaine du Pégau (a pégau being a wine jug used during the papal period in the 14th century) and began making their own wine across approximately five hectares.

Laurence worked tirelessly to develop export markets while simultaneously producing wines of the highest quality. This effort gained real recognition in 1992, when Robert Parker awarded the 1990 vintage a remarkable 96 points, describing the wine as follows:"The 1990 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of the appellation's superstars. It will not be released until spring 1993, but get your reservations in for this beauty."This review, combined with other glowing assessments, meant that the 1990 vintage sold out entirely before it had even officially reached the market.

It also marked the moment at which Laurence began acquiring additional vineyard land. Today, Domaine du Pégau covers approximately 23 hectares.

Because the proportion of white grape varieties is relatively small, those plots are farmed biodynamically, while the vineyards planted with red varieties are not managed according to this method. The total area is divided across eleven plots, with the finest situated on the La Crau plateau. The terroir is characterised by large galets (rounded stones), limestone and clay. The vineyards are planted with the classic Rhône varieties, with some vines reaching up to 80 years of age.

The grape bunches are most often fermented whole in concrete tanks, though in certain years the decision is made to destem the bunches beforehand. The red wines are then transferred to old foudres (large wooden casks), where they age for an average of 24 months.

The portfolio comprises three red Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, of which Cuvée da Capo is the most legendary. The Cuvée da Capo is produced only in the very finest years and has, to date, been made just eight times: 1998, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2020. On average, only 3,000 bottles of Cuvée da Capo are produced per vintage.

The first vintage, Cuvée da Capo 1998, was immediately awarded a perfect 100 points by Robert Parker. The 2000 vintage also received 100 points and gained even greater fame when it was named one of the Apostles (one of twelve exceptional wines) in the Japanese manga Drops of God, a series that has since been adapted into an Emmy Award-winning television series on Apple TV.

The estate's other two red wines are Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence and Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée. The Cuvée Laurence is made from fruit originating from very old vines originally destined for the Cuvée da Capo. When the quality is exceptionally high but the year is nonetheless deemed unsuitable for a full Da Capo cuvée, this fruit is used to produce a separate and equally rare wine: the Cuvée Laurence.

Pégau also produces two outstanding white Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines: Cuvée A Tempo and Cuvée Réservée Blanc. Cuvée A Tempo is the flagship white wine, made from old vines with a relatively small production. The name "A Tempo" is a musical term meaning "back to the original tempo," by which the domaine signals that the wine is made in the classic, traditional style of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

In 2012, Laurence also purchased a château with 41 hectares of vineyards, which she uses both for winemaking and for receiving clients. These vineyards comprise 25 hectares of Côtes du Rhône, 5 hectares of Côtes du Rhône Villages and 11 hectares of Vin de France. The wines from this property are not bottled under the Domaine du Pégau name, but under the name Château du Pégau.