2011 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Telegramme

With up-front blackberry, tobacco leaf, licorice and olive tapenade, the 2011 Telegramme Chateauneuf du Pape (70% Grenache and the balance Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault, aged all in foudre) is medium-bodied, soft and supple, with sweet fruit and solid freshness. It, too, is a rock-solid drinker that has plenty of character. Drink now-2019. Located in the southeastern part of Chateauneuf du Pape and located mainly on the prime La Crau plateau, this classic and traditional estate has been run by the Brunier family for generations. Now managed by brothers Daniel and Frederic, the estate continues to churn out a range of high class wines. In addition to their holdings in Chateauneuf du Pape (Vieux Telegraphe, La Roquete, and now Piedlong, which is a new wine replacing the red from La Roquete) they also make wines in Gigondas (Les Pallieres, Vin de Pays and Ventoux ). All of the wines are high quality and will be reviewed in part 2 of this report. To give you an idea on yields from this estate, in 2010 they reported yields of 27 hectoliters per hectare, 2011 was 32 hectoliters per hectare and 2012 came in at 30 hectoliters per hectare. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524