Domaine du Pegau Domaine du Pegau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 2022 750ml

A layered and well-balanced Chateauneuf-du-Pape with aromas of wild berries, dried herbs, leather, roasted meat and stones. It’s full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Lots of layers and poise with a restrained character on the palate, despite the generous nature of the vintage. Complex and velvety with lots of cherry character and dried herbs towards the finish. Funnelled and structured with great focus and length. Better after 2025. (James Suckling)

The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée is one of the strongest vintages for this wine in recent history. It is magnificent, soaring from the glass with pungent aromas of crème de cassis, ripe raspberry and strawberry, cured meat, tobacco, licorice, iodine and garrigue. Full-bodied, vibrant to the core and offering a multidimensional profile, this wine is really, really good. The Féraud family and the entire team deserve a round of applause for this sublime Cuvée Réservée, which will still be kicking ass 20 years from now. (Nicolas Greinacher)

A quick assemblage from foudres of the 2022 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée reveals a dark-fruited, spicy style, enlivened by hints of violets and garrigue. Full-bodied, rich and densely concentrated, with a long, silky finish, it looks to be a near-carbon copy of the stunning, cellar-worthy 2019. 95-97 points. (Joe Czerwinski)

Showing a solid step up over last year, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Reservée is a ripe, sexy, incredibly complex Pégau that's just about overflowing with red and black fruits, herbes de Provence, pepper, and leather-like aromatics. Reminding me slightly of a more elegant, less concentrated example of the 2009, it has full-bodied richness, a broad, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's already hard to resist yet should evolve nicely for 15-20 years if well stored.

I was even more impressed by the 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée than the 2019. Boasting crazily complex floral scents, garrigue, raspberries and cherries, this is one incredibly perfumed example of Pegau. Medium to full-bodied, silky, elegant and long, this is quintessential Pegau.

Looking at the classic 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Réservée, it shows the ripe, round, opulent side to the vintage as well as classic Pegau notes of gorgeous black cherries, Provençal garrigue, sandalwood, and ground pepper, with some background meaty nuances. Medium to full-bodied, it has a layered, seamless mouthfeel, plenty of ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It’s a more forward style of Pegau, not far off the style of the 2018, but it will nevertheless keep for two decades. (Jeb Dunnuck)

Showing a solid step up over last year, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Reservée is a ripe, sexy, incredibly complex Pégau that's just about overflowing with red and black fruits, herbes de Provence, pepper, and leather-like aromatics. Reminding me slightly of a more elegant, less concentrated example of the 2009, it has full-bodied richness, a broad, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's already hard to resist yet should evolve nicely for 15-20 years if well stored.

The 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée showcases ripe red and black fruits amid spice box, crushed violet and licorice aromatics. Concentrated and layered, the grippy tannins demand at least five more years to integrate into the wine. That said, I don't think it will be able to match the more complete 2020, but the ultimate test awaits after bottling. Readers should note that there will be no Cuvée Da Capo in 2022, mainly due to crop-reducing hail damage.

An earthy, throwback style, with wet earth and forest floor notes overlaying flavors of red plum. Offers a nice core of chewy fruit pierced with iodine, black pepper and mineral elements, all held in place by chunky tannins. This has a lot to like, but with a hint of Brettanomyces, so for fans of the old-school style. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2035. 6,660 cases made, 1,500 cases imported. (Kristen Bieler)