“Châteauneuf-du-Pape is an exceptional wine, one that deserves to be tasted with respect and admiration, like a masterpiece of nature and of man.” – Robert M. Parker Jr., American wine critic and founder of The Wine Advocate.
I knew Châteauneuf, naturally, but it was a friend who passed on his passion for these wines. Châteauneuf-du-Pape has barely 2,500 inhabitants; I like to compare it to Saint-Émilion, a small town that produces wines known the world over!
I’ve chosen here to tell you about a lovely discovery: Le Télégramme, from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, produced by Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. The wine’s name refers to the estate’s history, as it was once used as a telegraph station.
It’s the result of a skilful blend of different varieties typical of the region, notably Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. The grapes are hand-harvested and the wine is aged in oak barrels for around 10 months.
The result is a rich, powerful red, with aromas of black fruit, spice and garrigue. On the palate the wine is full-bodied with firm tannins and a long, persistent finish. This wine can be enjoyed young, but it’s also known to age remarkably well in the cellar.
Le Télégramme is considered one of the finest wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, an appellation renowned for its rich and complex reds. Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe is also famous for its other wines, notably the traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is even more complex and elegant than Le Télégramme.
My tasting of the 2019 vintage:
A woody nose right from the start with a marked red fruit — blackcurrant — and a little vanilla at the end.
You’ll note a lovely brownish colour along the upper edges; it stays a dark red. No doubt about it, it shows its colours from the outset.
This generous wine has a length marked by wood; the red fruit isn’t omnipresent, but personally I’m fond of that. The wine is round and powerful. This one won’t disappoint me — like every Châteauneuf I’ve had the chance to drink. What consistency in the quality of these wines!
This wine goes beyond €30 a bottle, which is no small budget, I’ll grant you. All the same, if you have the opportunity to keep it in your cellar, don’t hesitate.
What’s more, there’s no need to wait: this 2019 is already ready to drink.
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