Le Vieux Télégraphe - Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2012

Noble licorice on the nose, balanced by notes of resin and cedar; great finesse on the palate; harmonious, long, and complex—a wine of perfect style.

This splendid estate in Bédarrides is one of the appellation’s leading wines; it boasts a vast, contiguous vineyard located entirely on the Crau Plateau. The red wine is one of the most well-rounded in the appellation, crafted in a style expertly developed by the Brunier family, which prioritizes balance and drinkability over sheer power—despite the wine’s generous alcohol content. To achieve this, they make the most of the complex blend of grape varieties and do not necessarily seek out overripe grapes! The various wines formerly produced from the Roquette vineyard are now part of the Vieux-Télégraphe range: the excellent Clos-Roquette white and the magnificent red, named after the lieu-dit, Piedlong.

The flagship wine of the estate, the 2012 Le Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape, is a classic with a magnificent aromatic profile (kirsch, garrigue, pronounced minerality, and meaty flavors), medium-bodied richness, and a firm tannic structure. As usual, it will need a few years in the cellar to fully reveal itself, with a lifespan of about fifteen years. Best enjoyed through 2027.

 

Le Vieux Télégraphe embodies the sunny character of La Crau in its body and aromas, yet its refinement shines through.

Under the name Vignobles Brunier, we have brought together the estates of Vieux Télégraphe, La Roquète (renamed Accent de La Roquète starting with the 2011 vintage), and Les Pallières in Gigondas—all owned by the Brunier brothers. Three iconic estates. The splendid pebbles of La Crau, a warm terroir, are the source of the distinctive character of Vieux Télégraphe’s wines. The estate produces a significant and unique cuvée there, characterized by great consistency. Grapes that are lightly destemmed or left whole, aged in old oak casks, yield rich wines that require extended aging to mellow their intensity. Over time, they regain all the minerality of this superb terroir. Located in the center of the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the vineyard is primarily planted on the Pielong plateau and in the sandier Pignan district. As for La Roquète, starting in 2011, it became *L’Accent de La Roquète*, produced from the finest grapes. The wines are always straightforward and pure, more elegant than imposing. The remainder is downgraded to the “Le Télégramme” cuvée, a newcomer to the French market. And finally, the Les Pallières estate, a magnificent Gigondas vineyard situated on terraces beneath the Dentelles de Montmirail. The wine expresses itself in a deep, structured style without any heaviness.