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2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux TélégrapheThis grand dry white is produced from Châteauneuf’s best terroir, the plateau of La Crau. Seemingly more hospitable to a flowing river than to a plot of grape vines, this alluvial plain covered with large, rounded stones is the secret to the character and longevity of Vieux Télégraphe in both colors. A blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Bourbelenc, and Roussanne, the Blanc is a wiry, stony, zesty southern Rhône white built to last. I recommend letting it lie for a few years in bottle before you begin to explore its charms.
—Dixon Brooke
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2016 |
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 |
Vineyard: | 40 years average, 5 ha |
Soil: | Alluvial deposits, Limestone, Silica, and Molasse (red clay) with galets roulés |
Aging: | Wine rests in cement tank for 10 months, and then ages for another 12 months in foudres |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
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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...
Great winemakers, great terroirs, there is never any hurry. And I no longer buy into this idea of “peak” maturity. Great winemakers, great terroirs, their wines offer different pleasures at different ages.
Inspiring Thirst, page 312