2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée da Capo Domaine du Pegau

Dunnuck 93-96 points: The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée da Capo shows a more elegant, focused, reductive style and lacks the opulence and sexiness this cuvée normally shows. Medium to full-bodied, tannic, and backward on the palate, it has solid black fruits as well as peppery herbs, garrigue, and licorice aromas and flavors. It's clearly an outstanding wine, yet based on this showing, I don't see it coming close to past great vintages of this cuvée.

Parker-Czerwinski 96-98+ points: Based on this showing, I couldn't definitely say that the 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée da Capo will turn out better than the hugely impressive Cuvée Réservée. Lavender, bay leaf and purple raspberries stood out on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, silky and elegant. It's perhaps slightly more concentrated, with more tannic grip on the finish and a firmer structure. One for the cellar.

James Suckling 98-99 points: A complex nose of dark cherries, damson plums, dried spices, dried thyme, leather, some bark and undergrowth as well. Full body with great volume. Structured and balanced with a creamy core of berries and hints of dark chocolate. Fine texture with plenty of spicy character on the palate. It's complex and savory with leather and profound aromas developing towards the finish. Still a bit firm at this stage with a brain-rattling finish that almost knocks you off your chair! Majority grenache (70%), 7% syrah, 3% mourvedre and 20% of the other 13 grapes. Better after 2026.