2008 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
I would be lying if I said Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc is a wine I frequently crave. Vieux Télégraphe’s blanc, however, is one I am compelled to drink more often and even make space for in my cellar. Its undeniable weight on the palate is balanced by focus and precision. Tension and minerality—evocative of the infinite galets that litter La Crau—undercut the palate-coating fruit. The nose is complex, like radiant yellow blossoms whipped by the mistral, with a satisfying touch of cream. Here is a Châteauneuf blanc I can appreciate and, more important, want to drink.
**Extremely limited quantities**
—Anthony Lynch
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This item is not eligible for discounts |
| Wine Type: | white |
| Vintage: | 2008 |
| Bottle Size: | 750mL |
| Blend: | 40% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc, 15% Bourboulenc, 15% Roussanne |
| Appellation: | Châteauneuf-du-Pape |
| Country: | France |
| Region: | Southern Rhône |
| Producer: | Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe |
| Winemaker: | Frédéric & Daniel Brunier |
| Soil: | Alluvial deposits, Limestone, Silica, and Molasse (red clay) with galets roulés |
| Aging: | 50% of the blend is fermented in cuve, 50% in oak (barriques, demi-muids, and foudres) |
| Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
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About The Producer
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
One cannot think of Châteauneuf-du-Pape without thinking of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. The Brunier family is legendary in its own right, having been rooted to the plateau known as La Crau for over a century. The wines of Vieux Télégraphe evoke terroir in its purest form, reflecting the dramatic climate, the rough terrain, the sun exposure at a high altitude, the typicity of the varietals, and of course, the influence of their caretakers, the Brunier family. For many, La Crau is Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s grandest cru. The wines of V.T. are classic, displaying strength, rusticity, and tremendous longevity. Their goal is to find a harmony between aromatic complexity, tannic structure, and richness, which they achieve year after year.
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
For the wines that I buy I insist that the winemaker leave them whole, intact. I go into the cellars now and select specific barrels or cuvées, and I request that they be bottled without stripping them with filters or other devices. This means that many of our wines will arrive with a smudge of sediment and will throw a more important deposit as time goes by, It also means the wine will taste better.