The Cuvée A Tempo 2021 from Domaine du Pegau stands as a centerpiece of southern repertoire, a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC crafted for gastronomic tables and lovers of great terroir wines. Its name, a nod to music, signals a return to essentials: the vineyard's true rhythm and pure expression. Sourced from soils mixing sands, clays and rolled pebbles and farmed with biodynamic practices, this cuvée offers a precise reading of the vintage. The blend brings together equal parts Clairette for drive and freshness, Grenache Blanc for flesh and generosity, and Roussanne for depth and texture. Twelve months of aging in a 600 L concrete egg, a 225 L ceramic egg and old barrels shapes the material without disguising it, revealing a wine both vibrant, ample and of great aromatic persistence. Limited production, a finely chiselled profile, cellaring assured until 2035, A Tempo orchestrates a radiant tasting that reconciles intensity with grace.

Blend and winemaking

Composed of Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne in equal parts, the Cuvée A Tempo 2021 highlights the complementarity of these emblematic grape varieties. The harvest, carefully selected, is vinified to preserve aromatic brightness and structural purity. The 12-month ageing combines three vessels, each playing a distinct note in the final harmony: the concrete egg of 600 L to promote natural lees movement and round the texture, the ceramic egg of 225 L to preserve aromatic precision, and the old barrels that bring a subtle patina without imposing wood. This gentle, measured approach sculpts a wine of sovereign balance, where density meets a frank mineral energy.

Tasting notes

• Colour: Luminous gold with ripe wheat highlights, clear and brilliant, promising concentrated material and preserved freshness.
• Nose: An interweaving of stone fruits and delicate citrus, a floral lift of white flowers, touches of melon and lychee, nuanced by fine spices, a hint of pine resin and a confident minerality.
• Palate: Controlled breadth and succulent texture, a dense and complex core driven by a lively acidity. The structure stretches into a saline, persistent finish, offering strong gastronomic potential.

Serving temperature and advice

Serve this wine chilled, not iced, to preserve the integrity of its texture and the eloquence of its bouquet. A generous white-wine glass with a slightly tapered bowl will favour the expression of floral and spicy nuances. Careful service, preceded by gentle aeration, will allow the material to unfold naturally. Kept calm and away from temperature fluctuations, the cuvée will evolve gracefully, gaining aromatic complexity through 2035.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs: thin tart with sweet onions and anchovies, brandade puff pastry, zucchini flower fritters.
• Starters: sea bream carpaccio with citrus, white asparagus with mousseline sauce, seared squid with preserved lemon.
• Main courses: free-range roast chicken with fennel, monkfish with brown butter and herbs, spelt risotto with chanterelles.
• Cheeses: flower-rind tomme, aged firm goat cheese, mature Cantal with a saline edge.
• Desserts: lightly sweetened citrus, lemon shortbread, roasted peach with garrigue honey.

Occasions

The Cuvée A Tempo 2021 is the preferred companion for moments when the table becomes a stage and conversation becomes music. It is welcome:

• At a seasonal dinner focused on market produce, to highlight textures and aromas.
• During a thematic tasting dedicated to the great whites of the Southern Rhône, to gauge the breadth of its range.
• As a gift for an enthusiast, to mark a chosen moment with a bottle of character and ageing potential.

Specifications

• Name: Domaine du Pegau, Cuvée A Tempo 2021
• Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
• Type: White wine
• Vintage: 2021
• Grapes: Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, in equal parts
• Aging: 12 months in concrete egg 600 L, ceramic egg 225 L and old barrels
• Soils: sands, clays and rolled pebbles
• Farming: biodynamic practices
• Cellaring: until 2035
• Production: limited