Wine Advisor
Vieux Telegraphe, Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau 2018
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
The final blend of the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau will include 60% to 65% Grenache, 15% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, with the remainder Cinsault. Boasting complex scents of roses, black tea, raspberries and cherries on the nose, it follows that up with a full-bodied palate that's silky and airy in texture yet flavorful and tremendously long on the finish. It fits perfectly with the Brunier's stated goal of pursuing elegance.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
The finished blend that is now aging another year in 60 hectoliter barrels, this has a very fleshy, round, rich and smooth-honed palate that has such completeness already. The raspberries and red plums are stunning here. The tannins are there and very open-knit and there’s a super sapid feel to the finish. The 15% mourvedre does much of the heavy lifting here. It shapes the finish and drags it deep. Around one-third from crushed grapes with stems. Drinkable on release, but best from 2024.
About the Producer
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe, located in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation in the Rhone Valley, is a well-known family-owned and operated winery in the region. The Old Telegraph's vineyards are located on the famous Plateau of La Crau in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, a terroir of outstanding quality that gives the wines their distinctive mineral flavor. The vineyard is planted with Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Cinsault, and the average age of the vines is 60 years. The vineyard is managed in a sustainable way with organic farming, and a lot of labor is invested in leaf thinning, fruit thinning, plowing and organic fertilization to ensure healthy grape growth. In the production of the wines, the Old Telegraph is committed to making wines that express the characteristics of the climate and terroir of the vintage. In the pursuit of balance and individuality, Old Telegraph also makes adjustments to its winemaking process. The wines produced by Château Telegraph are of excellent quality, including Telegraphme, Vieux Telegraphe Rouge and Vieux Telegraphe Blanc.
