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2017 Ventoux Rouge “Mégaphone”
Frédéric & Daniel Brunier
If the Lapierres in Morgon ever made wine from Grenache and Syrah, this is how I imagine it would taste. This red is juicy, silky, and exuberant, while preserving the essence of these grape varieties grown in the southern Rhône, with their slight savoriness, stoniness, garrigue, and gently tannic backbone. The Lapierres, though, did not make this beautiful wine. The Bruniers—the family behind Vieux Télégraphe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Les Pallières in Gigondas—did. More specifically, this is the first vintage of Mégaphone made by Edouard Brunier, the sixth generation of this renowned family to produce wine in the southern Rhône. Crafted with mostly Grenache and a little Syrah from the slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail, this versatile rouge would happily accompany all kinds of dishes. I recommend Provençal chicken with tomatoes, olives, and herbs for a sublime match, though anything fresh off the grill would also do.
—Tom Wolf
| Wine Type: | red |
| Vintage: | 2017 |
| Bottle Size: | 750mL |
| Blend: | 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah |
| Appellation: | Vin de Pays de Vaucluse |
| Country: | France |
| Region: | Southern Rhône |
| Producer: | Famille Brunier |
| Winemaker: | Frédéric & Daniel Brunier |
| Vineyard: | 25 years average, 2 ha |
| Soil: | Rocky clay and sand |
| Aging: | Aged in 50 hl foudres for 10 months |
| Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
| Alcohol: | 14.5% |
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About The Producer
Famille Brunier
Vignobles Brunier embodies the ensemble of the holdings by the Brunier family. Brothers Frédéric and Daniel are the fourth generation of their family to farm the land of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. They have worked hard to solidify the legacy left by their father, Henri, and their great-grandfather, Hippolyte. In 1986, the family complemented their portfolio, offering more affordable cuvées that showcase the diversity of terroirs within their holdings. The “Pigeoulet” and “Mégaphone” are fresh, rich in fruit and easy to appreciate young. The red Châteauneuf “Piedlong”, sourced from the Piélong lieu-dit, is a profoundly mineral wine that balances elegance and purity with the muscle that is found in this great appellation.
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Where the newsletter started
Where the newsletter started
Every three or four months I would send my clients a cheaply made list of my inventory, but it began to dawn on me that business did not pick up afterwards. It occurred to me that my clientele might not know what Château Grillet is, either. One month in 1974 I had an especially esoteric collection of wines arriving, so I decided to put a short explanation about each wine into my price list, to try and let my clients know what to expect when they uncorked a bottle. The day after I mailed that brochure, people showed up at the shop, and that is how these little propaganda pieces for fine wine were born.—Kermit Lynch