Vieux Telegraphe, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, La Crau Rouge

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe, the Brunier family's Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate, grows its flagship on about 50 ha of the La Crau plateau, covered in rounded Alpine stones. The red, roughly 65% Grenache with 15% each of Mourvèdre and Syrah plus Cinsault and Clairette, from vines averaging 70 years, is sorted three times, partly destemmed, fermented 30–40 days in steel and wooden vats, then aged 20–22 months in 60-hectolitre foudres and bottled unfined and unfiltered; it is fine, classic and long-lived. The white, led by Clairette with Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Bourboulenc, rests on its lees in barriques, demi-muids and foudres. Télégramme is a supple, Grenache-led second red; Piedlong is old-vine Grenache with Mourvèdre.

Appellation

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Owner

Brunier family

Vineyards

Flagship from about 50 ha on the Plateau de la Crau, galets roulés

Grapes

Grenache (~65%), Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault; whites Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Bourboulenc

Wines

Vieux Télégraphe La Crau Rouge and Blanc; Télégramme; Piedlong; Clos Roquète

Style

Red: 30–40 day vatting, 20–22 months in 60 hl foudres, unfined and unfiltered

Website

vieux-telegraphe.fr

Sources: Wikipedia, winewithseth.com