Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 2018

One of the Rhône's great estates, Vieux Telegraphe is run by Fredec and Daniel Brunier, the great-grandsons of founder, Hippolyte Brunier. The domaine occupies some 70 hectares on the stony plateau of Le Crau in the east of the Châteauneufdu- Pape appellation. The wines of Vieux Telegraphe are true classics - robust and earthy with strong personalities and a great track record of longevity in the cellar. 

The stony Plateau de la Crau, in the south-east of the appellation, where the villages of Bédarrides, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Courthézon meet. Grapes for this wine are hand-picked, with double sorting at the vine, then a third sorting in the winery. Gentle pressing and selective destemming, followed by 25-40 days’ traditional fermentation in temperature–controlled stainless-steel and wooden vats. Pneumatic pressing, then systematic malolactic fermentation. The wine spends 20-22 months in French oak foudres (60hl). Bottled unfined and unfiltered, then released at 2 years.

The flagship of this great estate is the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape and it could quite possibly be one of the longest lived wines in the 2018 vintage, which in general, is a charming, forward vintage geared for consumption in the first decade of life. Revealing a more ruby, almost translucent color as well as a great perfume of wild strawberries, blackberries, Asian spices, peppery garrigue, and flowers, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a building, undeniable sense of minerality, plenty of mid-palate depth, and enough tannins to warrant 2-3 years or bottle age. It has the more upfront, expressive style of the vintage yet my money is on this evolving for 15-20 years. - Jeb Dunnuck, 94 Points  

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault, Clairette
Country - France
Region - Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Vintage - 2018
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14.5%