2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
The gnarled old gobelet-trained Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, and Roussanne of La Crau successfully coped with the hot, dry conditions that came to define the 2017 vintage, yielding a concentrated white with all of its typical characteristics intensified as if under a magnifying glass. The trademark mineral nerve conferred by the stones appears in spades, providing drive and precision. Fruit is ample, yet restrained, accented by whiffs of anise and a deft kiss of oak. In other words, we have yet another classic from the Bruniers. Stock up now, because the one downside of this fine vintage is its woeful yields.
—Anthony Lynch
| Wine Type: | white |
| Vintage: | 2017 |
| 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...
When buying red Burgundy, I think we should remember:
1. Big wines do not age better than light wine.
2. A so-called great vintage at the outset does not guarantee a great vintage for the duration.
3. A so-called off vintage at the outset does not mean the wines do not have a brilliant future ahead of them.
4. Red Burgundy should not taste like Guigal Côte-Rôtie, even if most wine writers wish it would.
5. Don’t follow leaders; watch yer parking meters.
Inspiring Thirst, page 174