08 Apr 2021

SOLD OUT

We have secured a special parcel of 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaines Vieux Télégraphe, one of our favourite vintages from this classic domaine.  The stock is ex-Château, so cellared in the best conditions possible and already drinking beautifully.  Scored 97 points by Jeb Dunnuck, he describes it as "classic Vieux Télégraphe all the way that has the balance to drink now."

Named after a telegraph tower on the estate built in 1793 by the inventor of the optical telegraph system, the domaine is on the La Crau plateau.  This terroir is key to the domaine's style, producing highly mineral wines. 

The vines for Vieux Télégraphe average 70 years of age, planted to a mix of 65% Grenache Noir, 15% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, Cinsault, Clairette and 5% a mix of the numerous other vareities permitted in the AOC. 

The grapes are hand-picked, with multiple sortings, both at picking and on the sorting table.  Gentle pressing and selective destemming is followed by 30-40 days’ traditional fermentation in temperature–controlled stainless-steel and wooden vats.  After pressing and fermentation, the wine spends 20-22 months in French oak foudres (60hl). Bottled unfined and unfiltered, it is released after 2 years.

The 2016 growing season in Châteauneuf-du-Pape began with a mild winter and a cool spring.  This was followed by a warm summer with cool nights, allowing aromatic complexity to develop in the fruit.  Despite the elegance and finesse of the wines from this vintage, there is no shortage of power or concentration here and the 2016 will age for at least another two decades.

We have just 10 dozen bottles available to offer, so do please let us know if you would like to add some to your cellar.

 

Producer Profile

Domaines Vieux Télégraphe, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

At Vieux Télégraphe, Daniel Brunier and his brother Frédéric have run the family domaine since the late 80s.  We once spent a day with Daniel visiting trade customers in the UK.  His reputation as an intense, intellectual character is well-deserved and we can see how he has brought this to bear in building the domaine into what it is today.   

Named after a telegraph tower on the estate built in 1793 by the inventor of the optical telegraph system, the domaine is on the La Crau plateau.  This terroir is key to the domaine's style, producing highly mineral wines. The vineyards for Vieux Télégraphe itself average 70 years of age, planted to a mix of 65% Grenache Noir, 15% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, Cinsault, Clairette and 5% a mix of the numerous other vareities permitted in the AOC. 

The grapes are hand-picked, with multiple sortings, both at picking and on the sorting table.  Gentle pressing and selective destemming is followed by 30-40 days’ traditional fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel and wooden vats.  After pressing and fermentation, the wine spends 20-22 months in French oak foudres (60hl). Bottled unfined and unfiltered, it is released after 2 years.