Sergio's Pick

Chateauneuf is my ultimate dad wine. It's big, intense, yet moves with so much grace and balance that you forget you're drinking a full-bodied wine. Domaine de Pegau is my personal favorite producer as you are not punished for opening this young, (in fact sometimes I prefer it), but you are also greatly rewarded if you let it rest for a few years in the cellar. Brooding notes of cherry liqueur, forest floor, sandalwood, eucalyptus, violets, iron, game and green peppercorns evolve from the glass. A thick and silky concentrated, mineral-forward texture steals the show before it's easily swayed toward velvety tannins by its sneaky acidity. The finish is long, earthy, and peppery with a touch of smoke. Pairs perfectly with ribs, briskets, and bbq.

Additional Notes from Handcrafted:

The Férauds have been growing vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape since 1670, with titles to their earliest vineyards dating back to 1733. They also grew cherries and olives.

Laurence’s great-grandparents and grandparents (Elvire & Léon Féraud) expanded total farmed acreage to 54. Paul, the youngest of four children, began working full time for the family business at age 14. The Férauds sold most of their production in bulk to top négociants (Jaboulet-Aine, David & Foillard, Guigal), but in 1964, Paul decided to sell 5,000 bottles under his own label. The era of estate bottling had begun."