Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate: "A sleeper of the vintage, the spectacular 2010 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau Vieilles Vignes is a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah. This peppery cuvee exhibits notes of white chocolate, kirsch liqueur, black raspberries, truffles and melted asphalt. Deep, full-bodied and powerful, this blockbuster can be enjoyed over the next decade (2012-2022).  (Not yet released)
As I have written many times in the past, Domaine du Pegau is well-known as one of the reference points for traditionally styled wines. One only has to spend a half hour or so talking with father Paul Feraud, or his ambitious and brilliant daughter, Laurence, to understand that they will not make any compromises, nor change their winemaking or upbringing styles to suit the whims of the fickle consumer. ... his daughter, Laurence, took control of the estate. She has added two negociant lines, the Selection Laurence Feraud and the Feraud-Brunel wines, but even with the introduction of several new cuvees (Cuvee da Capo since 1998 and the non-vintage Plan Pegau), this estate continues to go from strength to strength. This is another estate where the bottled wines often taste significantly better than they do from barrel. ... We will not see any new blends probably until 2012, which was looking like another promising vintage for the southern Rhone at the time of writing (unless the rain of September 24, 2012 had a deleterious affect). Consumers should have a marvelous time comparing the 2009 and 2010 Cuvee Reservees with the 2007. One would have to go back to 1989 and 1990 to find two back-to-back vintages of similar majesty." Oct 2012

Wired For Wine: It's raining Rhone, winelovers! It's not a light rain; this Feraud-Brunel Cotes du Rhone Villages Rasteau is a dark, solid rain. It's ready to drink now, and made for hearty fare, be it finger food or a lavish sit-down gathering. The gorgeous pepper notes and earthy truffles pair beautifully with meats, roasts, tomato sauces and rich stews alike, or even roast chicken. We're imagining the lovely caramelized edge on grilled or browned racks of lamb, standing rib roasts, or a full beef tenderloin with a red wine reduction simmered with star anise, cloves and bay leaves on the table, and how well any of these choices would pair with this sturdy Cotes-du-Rhone. Grilled sharp cheddar and Virginia ham sandwich bites are a great starter with your first glasses. Or, you could offer a buffet of sliders three ways: beef, lamb and pork with a tangy barbecue sauce. What are you in the mood for? You could consider your options while enjoying a French Reblochon cheese. Or, just have a delicious glass of this Feraud-Brunel all by itself. It wouldn't be so bad to get lost in a deep, powerful glass of what Mr. Parker refers to as a "blockbuster"...

Size:  750ml, cork
Varietal:  75% Grenache and 25% Syrah
Alcohol:  @14.5% 
Region:    Rasteau, Cotes du Rhone Villages, Southern Rhone, France