Vieux Telegraphe 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape, La Crau

Vieux Telegraphe is an iconic wine. The Brunier family who owns the estate is legendary in its own right, having been rooted to the enigmatic plateau known as "La Crau" for over one hundred years. The wines of Vieux Telegraphe 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 with an emphasis on Grenache, and of course, the influence of their caretakers, the Brunier family. For many, La Crau is Châteauneuf-du-Pape's grandest cru.

Every vintage the wine excels, ending up on best of the year and top 100 lists. Barrel tastings of this 2018 have been done by several done by several esteemed critics and the result reflect another roaring success.

The Wine Advocate scored this 94-96 saying “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.”

Jeb Dunnuck scored this 93-95 saying “The grand vin is the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape. It's an elegant version of this cuvée, offering beautiful blueberry, raspberry, crushed violet, graphite, and crushed rock-like minerality. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and balanced, it’s polished and seamless, yet has plenty of tannins as well as richness, and is going to evolve beautifully."

James Suckling scored this 92-93 saying “This has a lot of red fruit, a lot of personality and a lot of brambly aromas with spicy nuances, too. The palate has a very smooth build and a deep, plum and red-fruit core, framed in long, noble and rich, ripe tannins. The immediate fleshy appeal is high. Wait for the rest.”