Owning an enviable 70 hectares in La Crau - one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s greatest and most distinctive plots - the Brunier brothers of Vieux Télégraphe are at the top of their game. The exposed and extreme terroir of La Crau favours the cultivation of the drought-tolerant Grenache, with smaller percentages of the other permitted varieties such as Mourvèdre and Syrah complementing the blend. The yields here are tiny, and once in the winery the wines do not see any small oak, resulting in concentrated yet pure expressions of the Southern Rhône that showcase their soil and season. As good as the red is (and it's exceptionally good this year) do not miss their gorgeous Châteauneuf Blanc, a rich and stylish wine, offering very fine value within the premium white wine category. The sister wineries of Vieux Télégraphe in Gigondas and Vaucluse are also in very fine form, and we also proudly offer the uber-delicious Mégaphone and Pallières Rosé for more immediate enjoyment
2020 Les Pallières Au Petit Bonheur Rosé
$45 per bottle ; $52 RRP
Produced by the Brunier brothers of Domaine Vieux Telegraphe in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the 2020 Les Pallieres Rose - made from Gigondas fruit - is absolutely singing this year. Made from 1/3 each of Grenache, Cinsault and Clairette (a white grape popular of the Rhone Valley) and matured exclusively in large 650l oak barrels, this is a full-flavoured yet elegant rose of silky texture and clear definition. The wine is full of citrus, peach and orange fruit, with spice notes and a stony mineralité on the long finish.
2020 Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
$165 per bottle ; $189 RRP
"Plenty of fresh-nut character, plus notes of bread dough and candied lemon on the enticing nose. Rich and creamy palate, the underlining stony character complementing this very neatly. Long and complete finish with serious textural and mineral complexity. From the Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe stable. Drink or hold." - 95 Points, James Suckling
"Coming from a single parcel of 50- to 55-year-old vines in la Crau, Vieux Telegraph’s 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is a blend of roughly 45% Clairette and 30% Grenache Blanc, with the balance split equally between Roussanne and Bourboulenc. Two-thirds were matured in foudre, with the other third matured in demi-muids, leading to a slightly honeyed nose with hints of toasted grain and gently warmed pineapple. It’s full-bodied and creamy, balanced by a hint of bitterness on the long finish." - 93 Points, Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
2020 Mégaphone Côtes du Ventoux
"A fragrant and surprisingly elegant Ventoux with a healthy tannin structure on the medium body and nice freshness at the long, mineral finish. Drink now." - 92 Points, James Suckling
2019 Vieux Télégraphe 'Télégramme' Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge$109 per bottle ; $125 RRP
"Ripe, spice-accented dark berry and cherry preserve scents show strong garrigue and floral accents. Pliant in texture and broad in the mouth, offering sappy boysenberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors and a peppery topnote. Finishes long and gently chewy, with the floral and spice notes repeating." - 93 Points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous
"Very ripe damson plum, but not a jot overripe on the finely nuanced nose. This powerful Chateauneuf has an excellent balance of generous, fine tannins and richness, the lively acidity lifting the long savory finish beautifully. Drink or hold." - 94 Points, James Suckling
"Full-bodied, rich and highly textural, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Telegramme is atypically concentrated and dense, reflecting the addition of more old-vine Grenache to the cuvée. Black cherries, salted licorice and dark chocolate all make appearances, and the wine finishes long and velvety." - 92 Points, Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
2019 Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge$179 per bottle ; $210 RRP
"Looking at the flagship 2019 Châteauneuf du Pape from this benchmark estate, it reveals a denser ruby/purple color as well as stunning notes of smoke red and black fruits, crushed rocks, peppery garrigue, and truffly earth. Hitting the palate with full-bodied richness, it stays tight and compact on the palate, with terrific mid palate depth, a focused, structure mouthfeel and one great finish. This is a brilliant Châteauneuf du Pape from the Brunier family that’s going to benefit from upwards of 5-7 years of bottle age and have 30+ years of overall longevity." - (96-98) Points, Jeb Dunnuck
"If anyone tells you that Châteauneuf is just a big red that’s never elegant, then they need to taste this masterpiece of elegance. So many spicy and savory nuances on the very concentrated but almost perfectly proportioned palate. This is both joyful and serious at the very long, focused finish. Decades of aging potential! Drink or hold." - 97 Points, James Suckling
"The 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau is a hugely successful vintage, marked by scents of sun-warmed stones, garrigue, black cherries and black olives. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, it finishes with tremendous length and softly dusty tannins, which should help ensure a long, positive evolution." - 96+ Points, Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
To purchase any of the wines in today's newsletter please use the links above, or phone us on (07) 3252 1117, or email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au - Prices valid until stock runs out or until July 13th 2022.