An Iconic Family’s Most Approachable Wines
by Tom Wolf
An Iconic Family’s Most Approachable Wines
by Tom Wolf
Over the last 130 years, as each new generation of the Brunier family has come of age, the elders have carved out a lane for the younger generation to grow and express themselves. In 1891, the original Henri Brunier purchased plots of the wooded, stony plateau in Châteauneuf-du-Pape known as La Crau for his son Hippolyte, who cleared parts of the land to plant his first vine stocks. Nearly a century later, in the 1970s, Hippolyte’s grandson, also Henri, began bottling his wines under the Vieux Télégraphe label and built a new winery in anticipation of the arrival of his sons, Frédéric and Daniel.
Then, a little over a decade ago, with the nearing assimilation of the newest generation—Edouard, Nicolas, and Manon—Daniel and Frédéric launched their latest cuvée, Mégaphone, from the slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail in the Ventoux appellation.
Mégaphone has served as an ideal entrypoint, both for the younger generation to cut its teeth and for wine lovers to become acquainted with the magic of the Bruniers’ wines, as have their Pigeoulet blanc and rouge bottlings, which are blended from vineyards scattered across the Vaucluse. These three bottlings may originate from less-well-known appellations than La Crau, but they are brilliant achievements, reaching the pinnacle of their Vaucluse and Dentelles AOCs.
You might pour the agile and exuberant Pigeoulet rouge alongside slow-cooked pork, a falafel plate, or burgers at your next barbecue and the stony, herb-inflected blanc with a nice baked white fish or fresh goat cheese. Try the Mégaphone, meanwhile, with roast lamb, your favorite steak, or a hearty tagine. Do not miss these three incredibly approachable and delicious wines from the southern Rhône Valley’s most iconic domaine!
Wines In The Collection
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
Fragrant aromas of lavender and garrigue, notes of perfectly ripe black cherries, hints of black olive and stones.
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
The blend is equal parts Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and Clairette. Together, they create a wine that has a complex mouth-feel that finishes with a nice refreshing acidity.
France | Southern Rhône
Fragrant aromas of lavender and garrigue, notes of perfectly ripe black cherries, hints of black olive and stones.
France | Southern Rhône
The blend is equal parts Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and Clairette. Together, they create a wine that has a complex mouth-feel that finishes with a nice refreshing acidity.
France | Southern Rhône
This is about as quaffable as the region’s rouges get.
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