Taste Profile
Notes: Apple, Quince Lemon, Grapefruit Honeysuckle, Acacia Oak
Body: Medium
Dryness: Very Dry
Acidity: Medium
Tannin: Light
Alcohol (%): 13
Winemaking
Origin: Rhone Valley (Chateauneuf du Pape, Cote Rotie & More), France
Maker: Vieux Télégraphe
Grape:
Fermentation: Natural Heavy Wood
Awards:
Serving Recommendations
Decanting:
Asian Food Pairing:
Western Food Pairing: Pair with prawn appetisers, shellfish risotto, or fish pie.
Description
Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau Blanc
Creamy and rich with a distinct oak character. The fresh bouquet is floral rather than fruity, with honeysuckle, acacia and a touch of zesty citrus. The palate focuses more on citrus and stone fruit, with flavours of lemon and grapefruit, crisp apple, honeyed quince and a touch of oak. Complex and balanced, with a creamily smooth mouthfeel.
Comprises a blend of 40% Clairette, 25% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne and 10% Bourboulenc. Sourced from a 6 hectare vineyard in the stony Plateau de la Crau, in the south-east of the appellation, where the villages of Bédarrides, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Couthézon meet. The vines have an average age of 45 years. Grapes are hand-picked, with double sorting at the vine, then a third sorting in the winery. They first go through pneumatic pressing, then static settling. Fermented and matured in barriques, demi-muids and 30 hl foudres. Bottled after a year of ageing.
One cannot think of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the most celebrated cru of the southern Rhône, without thinking of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. The Brunier family is legendary in its own right, having been rooted to the enigmatic plateau known as "La Crau" for over 100 years. The wines of Vieux Télégraphe evoke the concept of terroir in its purest form: they reflect their dramatic climate, the rough terrain that defines the soil, their full sun exposure at a higher altitude, the typicity of the varietals, and the Brunier family influence.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
- 95 POINTS
Well-built, with a steady intensity to the waves of white peach, star fruit, acacia, honeysuckle and mirabelle plum. Delivers flashes of lemon shortbread and quinine through the finish, giving it both plump and racy elements. This is hard to lay off now, but it has some development ahead of it. Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc and Roussanne. Best from 2030.
Plenty of fresh-nut character, plus notes of bread dough and candied lemon on the enticing nose. Rich and creamy palate, the underlining stony character complementing this very neatly. Long and complete finish with serious textural and mineral complexity. From the Domaine du Vieux Télégraph stable. Drink or hold.
- 93 POINTS
The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc is more tight and backward, with medium-bodied aromas and flavors of pear, white flowers, licorice, and crushed stone. Nicely concentrated and balanced, it’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. It’s a classic, age-worthy, regal white from this estate.