Domaine du Pegau Cote du Rhone Cuvee Maclura Tinto 2023

Domaine du Pégau Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Maclura Tinto 2023 (often labelled under the producer name Château Pégau) is a high-quality red from the southern Rhône Valley, France. It's made by renowned winemaker Laurence Féraud, the mind behind Domaine du Pégau's iconic Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The 2023 vintage of Domaine du Pegau Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Maclura received 91 points from the team at Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate), usually reviewed by critic Joe Czerwinski.

The tasting style of this cuvée is very consistent. It's a deeply coloured wine, led by aromas of ripe black fruit — such as cherry and blackberry — with nuances of black olive, ground pepper and a light touch of espresso.

On the palate it's structured, medium- to full-bodied, standing out for its concentration and intensity. The profile is robust and slightly savoury, with present but well-integrated tannins of fine, somewhat “dusty” texture, giving a solid yet appealing structure.

With 91 points, it sits in the “Outstanding” category of the Parker scale (90-95), and is often praised for its remarkable value and compared to a “mini Châteauneuf-du-Pape”.

For the 2023 vintage of Domaine du Pegau Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Maclura, the reviews from James Suckling continue to highlight the wine as a quality benchmark in the region.

It has an intense aromatic profile, with ripe cherries and raspberries wrapped in an expressive touch of sweet spice.

On the palate it's structured, medium- to full-bodied, supported by fine, firm, well-integrated tannins that add elegance and precision.

The finish has a slightly peppery liveliness, with a complex layered texture where ripe fruit blends with wild herbs and subtle hints of grilled meat.

According to critic Jeb Dunnuck, the 2023 Cuvée Maclura is particularly impressive, earning 92 points — the highest score given to this wine so far.

On tasting, it shows a classic bouquet very true to the Pégau style, led by intense black-fruit aromas such as blackberry and ripe plum. These come harmoniously wrapped in typical garrigue notes — evoking wild herbs such as thyme and rosemary — plus subtle nuances of pepper and dry earth.

On the palate the wine is medium- to full-bodied, with a silky, velvety texture. The fruit concentration is particularly remarkable, described as out of the ordinary for a Côtes du Rhône. Finely integrated tannins make for a balanced tasting that's approachable now without compromising its ageing potential.

With enough structure to age gracefully over the next 3 to 5 years, this vintage was summed up by Dunnuck as a “little Châteauneuf-du-Pape”, showing quality well beyond its price point.