Welcome to The Society s Rhône Growers tasting. From the often extreme slopes and mono-crus of the north, to the flatter terrain and broad choice of blended wines in the south, there is an enormous range of styles on offer in the Rhône Valley. Syrah is king and viognier, marsanne and roussanne his queens in the most northerly appellations of the Rhône. Together they rule in the small, steep vineyards that produce some of the region s most sought-after wines. Moving south, as the climate becomes increasingly Mediterranean, sun-seeking grenache, mourvèdre, carignan and syrah take the lead roles, and blends reign supreme. Whilst Châteauneuf-du-Pape is perhaps the south s most famous appellation, burgeoning regions such as Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Cairanne are increasingly producing rich, fruit-laden, full-bodied reds to match. A mini horizontal tasting of the red wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape provides an excellent opportunity to explore the wines of the village, highlighting the wealth of different styles and the quality currently on offer from this corner of the Southern Rhône. Enjoy your tasting. The Society s sweetness code: White wines from bone dry [1] to lusciously sweet [9] = sparkling wine = white wine = rosé wine = red wine S = screwcap closure P = synthetic closure NORTHERN RHÔNE The total production of the northern Rhône is tiny, at less than 5% of that of the total Rhône Valley, especially when it is considered that of this 5%, Crozes-Hermitage represents over half. Most of the wines are sold by appellation with three being white only, two red only and three others where both red and white can be made. The appellation Côtes-du-Rhône is rarely seen in the north, but full use is made of the vin de pays/vin de France category which allows producers to make slightly simpler wines from young vines or from vines that for one reason or another were not included in an appellation. The continental climate experienced in the north means that in some years the grapes do not ripen fully and vintage variation can be marked. Syrah is the only red grape variety allowed in the northern Rhône, whilst rich, full-bodied whites are made from marsanne, roussanne and viognier.
1. [2] Saint Peray Brut, Domaine Voge 2012 Alain Voge, who has vines in both Cornas and Saint-Péray, has gone back to making sparkling wine as was once the tradition here. It is the presence of limestone in the soil that makes marsanne and roussanne grapes suitable for the production of sparkling wine, and the result here is a mature, full-flavoured, quite complex and very fine fizz. Drink over the next year. 12.5% ref SG2371 21.00 bottle 252 dozen Saint-Péray is situated on the right bank of the Rhône to the west of Valence, and is the southernmost of the northern Rhône appellations. Its 75 hectares of vineyards are on limestone and granite soils, and this coupled with the area s cool microclimate makes Saint- Péray ideal for the production of mineral and floral whites made from marsanne and roussanne. 2. [2] Saint-Péray Les Figuiers, Domaine Bernard Gripa 2011 A benchmark for this still little-known appellation that exists just for white wine. Fabrice Gripa s older-vine cuvée is driven by 65% roussanne, which brings to the heady marsanne an element of aromatic complexity, more acidity and extra longevity. Concentrated and very long with a stylish minerality about it, it would make a fine alternative to white Burgundy, but will handle an even greater variety of dishes, including mildly spicy ones. Drink now to 2021. 13.5% ref RH33381 24.00 bottle 288 dozen 3. [2] Condrieu Les Cassines, Paul Jaboulet Ainé 2015 Textbook viognier from steep, granite slopes in the northern Rhône. The 2015 includes grapes from Jaboulet s own vines and this Condrieu has fat, richness and lovely apricot-like fruit. Drink now to 2020. 14% ref RH46741 32.00 bottle 384 dozen Situated on the right-bank of the Rhône, Condrieu is famous for its white wines made solely from viognier, and is the northernmost white wine appellation in the Rhône Valley. Condrieu s narrow terraces are generally composed of granite and arzelle, a mixture of decomposed granite, mica, shale, and clay that is believed to give the wines their fruity aromas of peaches and apricots. Fresh and aromatic, Condrieu is often described as floral, fruity and, with a little bottle age, can have notes of musk and gingerbread. 4. [2] The Society s Exhibition Hermitage Blanc 2013 Outstanding full-bodied dry white from one of the greatest vineyards. Marsanne and roussanne are used to create a very rich, oily and multi-faceted white that is lovely now but
will gain further in complexity with age. With flavours of lemon, hazelnut and honey, this is concentrated and long. Don t over chill. Drink now to 2028. 14% ref RH46851 35.00 bottle 420 dozen 5. The Society s Exhibition Crozes-Hermitage 2015 From a mighty Rhône vintage, this has depth of colour and full-flavour. Dark berry fruits dominate the flavour and there are also hints of spice and tar. Drink now to 2023. 13% ref RH46381 13.95 bottle 167 dozen DOMAINE COURBIS The Courbis family has been associated with wine since the 16th century and is based in the historic village of Chateaubourg in the Ardèche. Here Laurent Courbis is mayor and his father Maurice had been mayor before him. It was Maurice who created the estate as a wine producer in his own right. His sons, Laurent and Dominique have since taken it to new levels and indeed expanded it, adding vineyards in Saint-Péray and Crozes-Hermitage. Chateaubourg is part of the historic zone of Saint-Joseph and the Courbis brothers are among the largest landowners here. 6. [2] Saint-Joseph Blanc Les Royes, Domaine Courbis 2014 A lovely full-flavoured marsanne from vines planted on a rare outcrop of limestone amongst the Saint-Joseph granite. This is a fragrant, round and gently honeyed white wine. Drink now to 2020. 13% ref RH42151 21.00 bottle 252 dozen The geology around Chateaubourg is complex. Granite dominates, perfect for growing the syrah grape. The top vineyard however, called Royes, is quite different as here there is limestone, good for reds but very good for whites too as limestone soils tend to result in wines with greater acidity and freshness. 7. Cornas Sabarotte, Domaine Courbis 2005 Sabarotte is on granite soil at the southern end of Cornas. Here the perfect exposure adds a degree or two of ripeness and turns out thick, black Rhônes with a good deal of fat and natural sweetness. Drink now to 2022. 13.5% ref RH17941 38.00 bottle 456 dozen
8. Cornas Les Eygats, Domaine Courbis 2009 Very black, dense and concentrated syrah from a vineyard that always turns out wine with good grip. In 2009, an excellent vintage for the northern Rhône, this makes for a Cornas with a great sense of balance. Drink now to 2022. 14% ref RH26291 35.00 bottle 420 dozen DOMAINE VILLARD Food and wine are never far apart in the Rhône which is hardly surprising when one considers that some of the world s greatest eating houses can be found between Lyon and Valence. Indeed Francois Villard s professional life began at the age of 20 as a waiter and sommelier and it was then that the wine bug really hit home. He bought vines in Condrieu and set up cellars behind those of his friend Yves Cuilleron. His idea of wine making is like cooking, forever searching, ever questioning and trying new things out. The wines he makes today surprise by their delicacy as well as by their depth and power. Like many of his colleagues, Villard has his fingers in lots of different pies, including the one of reconstructing the Roman vineyards that existed around the town of Vienne, abandoned at the time of phylloxera and the Great War. The wines all tend to have cuvée names and are not necessarily linked to any one vineyard. Réflets, for example, is a blend of old vines selected from top sites and aged extensively in barrel. 9. Syrah L Appel des Sereines, Domaine Villard 2015 Gorgeous, soft-centred syrah, mostly from young Saint-Joseph vines in the northern Rhône. This has perfume and elegance. Drink now to 2020. 13% ref RH46901 12.50 bottle 150 dozen 10. Saint-Joseph Mairlant, Domaine Villard 2013 Made from old vines grown on some of the estate s best slopes, this is a fine example of northern Rhône syrah: elegant with a touch of spice and a long finish. Drink now to 2021. 13% ref RH43271 23.00 bottle 276 dozen Established in 1956 Saint-Joseph is the second-largest appellation in the northern Rhône with around 50 growers producing wine from over 600 hectares of vineyards. Red wines dominate, with over 90% of the production of this appellation being made from syrah, whilst the whites tend to be blends of marsanne and roussanne. As Saint-Joseph is a long and narrow AC there is no particular characteristic of the commune, but the red wines tend to be lighter than those from the other red ACs in the northern Rhône and the best examples offer great value.
11. Côte-Rôtie Gallet Blanc, Domaine Villard 2010 This is a big, dark, muscular yet scented syrah with wonderful concentration and length. Drink now to 2023. 13% ref RH34291 39.00 bottle 468 dozen Côte-Rôtie is the only red cru in the Northern Rhône to plant the white grape variety viognier (up to 20%) alongside syrah and the two varieties are often co-fermented with viognier bringing finesse, elegance and floral characteristics to the wine. On the nose Côte- Rôtie can range from aromas of red or black fruits to notes of violet and spices. Whilst on the palate the flavours range from woodland, leather and tobacco to coffee. SOUTHERN RHÔNE Producing over 3.5 million hectolitres, the southern Rhône is the second-biggest region for the production of appellation contrôlée wine after Bordeaux. About 89% of the wine produced in the region is red, though production of both white and pink is growing. Some 20 grape varieties are planted in the south though one in particular, grenache, gives the region as a whole its identity that is to say, generosity, body, weight and a definite tendency to produce big wines. More than half of the production in the southern Rhône is of Côtes-du-Rhône with the best sold as Côtes-du-Rhône Villages. Better still are the socalled crus, led by Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON An ancient family-owned estate in the southern Rhône situated on the right bank of the river facing Châteauneuf-du-Pape. What makes Château de Montfaucon so extraordinary is the rich diversity of its vines as well as their age which allows the owner, Rodolphe de Pins, to make wines of extraordinary depth and complexity. 12. [2] Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc Comtesse Madeleine, Château de Montfaucon 2015 From an iconic estate this is a full-flavoured white made from clairette, bourboulenc and marsanne. There is plenty of weight here coupled with well-focused fruit. Drink now to 2020. 13% ref RH44491 13.50 bottle 162 dozen 13. Lirac Rouge Baron Louis, Château de Montfaucon 2013 The wines here are marked by long barrel ageing which gives them a certain patina. This excellent 2013 is full of rich, spicy fruit and shows great complexity. Drink now to 2022. 14.5% ref RH44481 14.50 bottle 174 dozen
An official Côtes du Rhône cru since 1947, Lirac is the southernmost cru in the Rhône Valley. Here the diversity of the soil coupled with the appellation s Mediterranean climate enables a range of grape varieties to thrive. The clay plateaus with their large pebbles produce well-structured reds from grenache, syrah, mourvèdre and cinsault, which when grown in sand produce rounded, fruity rosés. White varieties such as grenache blanc, bourboulenc, roussanne, and clairette grow in the arid scrubland producing wines with finesse, and aromatic complexity. 14. Château de Montfaucon, IGP Gard Rouge M. le Baron 2011 Glorious idiosyncratic red made from 15 different grape varieties, some from 100-year-old vines, all aged for a year in oak. There is concentration and complexity and spice in this wine which would be brilliant with a lamb tagine. The label is reproduced from an 1829 original. Drink now to 2024. 14.5% ref RH44471 23.00 bottle 276 dozen DIVASUD 15. Côtes-du-Rhône Rive Droite, Rive Gauche 2016 The name was conjured up because this wine is sourced from both banks of the Rhône, with the grenache coming mainly from the left bank and the syrah from the well-placed village of Daumazan, near Tavel. A stunning, fruit-flavoured wine but which has a fresh feel inspite of its obvious strength. Drink now to 2020. 14.5% S ref RH47061 7.75 bottle 93 dozen 16. Côtes-du-Rhône, Mas du Libian 2014 Vibrant, full-bodied red from a small family-run estate near the Gorges de l Ardèche. The shire horse, Nestor, does much of the work in the vineyards! Drink this year and next. 13.5% ref RH41921 8.95 bottle 107 dozen 17. Costières de Nîmes, Tradition Rouge, Mas des Bressades 2015 A lovely well-balanced, fruity grenache and syrah blend from near Nîmes. Perfect for everyday drinking, with enough sense of structure to work well with food. Drink now to 2021. 14% ref RH44431 8.50 bottle 102 dozen
DOMAINE DES ESCARAVAILLES In 1953, Jean-Louis Férran purchased several ideally placed hillside parcels of vines in the Rasteau, Cairanne and Roaix regions of Côtes-du-Rhône. Over the years the reins have been passed from father to son, and it is now Gilles, Jean-Louis grandson who manages the estate s 65 hectares of vines. 18. Côtes-du-Rhône Sablières, Domaine des Escaravailles 2015 Full-bodied, fruity grenache and syrah blend made using fruit grown in Rasteau. This is ample and spicy, and has all the warmth of the 2015 vintage. Drink over the next 12 months. 14% ref RH46731 9.25 bottle 111 dozen To comply with the AC regulations, reds from Rasteau must contain a minimum of 50% grenache. Grenache gives the wines their structure, aromatics, generosity of fruit and their body. A relatively robust grape, grenache generally copes well with both strong winds and drought, so is perfectly suited to Rasteau s terroir with its exposed hillsides and dry, barren soil. 19. Cairanne Ventabren Villages, Domaine des Escaravailles 2012 Escaravaille s wines are always marked by opulent fruit and very round tannins and the 2012 is no exception. A full-bodied, smooth Rhône red with plum, fig and spice on the palate. Drink now to 2020. 15% ref RH36181 11.95 bottle 143 dozen 20. Cairanne Ventabren Villages, Domaine des Escaravailles 2010 Gilles Ferran has consistently produced good-value Cairanne in a rich smooth style. In this superb vintage, this is very dark in colour and offers sweet ripe fruit flavours with soft tannins. Drink over the next 12 months. 14.5% ref RH30211 12.50 bottle 150 dozen Awarded cru status in 2016, 96% of wine produced in Cairanne is red made from grenache (which must make up at least half of the blend) and syrah and mourvèdre (which must constitute at least 20% of the blend). Only 4% of production is given over to white wines which are made from grenache blanc, clairette, rousanne, marsanne and viognier. The soil types across the village are varied with chalky white clay soils producing robust, powerful wines with firm tannins and good colour, whilst red clay and silt soils produce more rounded, easy-drinking styles of wine.
DOMAINE JAUME Domaine Jaume, which celebrated its centenary in 2005, has been supplying The Wine Society with Côtes-du-Rhône since 1981. The wines are among the best-selling red Rhônes on our list. The domaine is based in Vinsobres, a beautiful hillside village in the southern part of the Valley, blessed with extremely well-exposed vineyard sites. The Jaumes worked hard to get cru status for Vinsobres and in the end won the argument based on their wine Cuvée Référence. The Jaumes also own plots of vines high above village at an altitude of some 420 meters which inspired the name for another of their cuvées Vinsobres Altitude 420. 21. The Society s Côtes-du-Rhône 2016 Ripe, full-bodied grenache-syrah blend from Vinsobres. Cool mountain breezes helped contain some of the ardour of this exceptional vintage. Fruity and with delightful freshness. Drink now to 2020. 14% S ref RH47091 7.75 bottle 93 dozen Vinsobres is one of the newest crus of the southern Rhône having been promoted from the village ranks in time for the 2005 vintage. It is one of the northernmost appellations in the southern Rhône and, though close to villages like Cairanne or Rasteau, the climate here is different, being cooler and wetter. One of the reasons why Vinsobres has been honoured with a promotion to cru status is in recognition of the village as a site of real potential for the syrah grape. 22. Vinsobres, Altitude 420, Domaine Jaume 2014 Called Altitude because the grapes, grenache and syrah come from higher up the hill where cool breezes are an important factor in maintaining fresh fruity flavours. Drink now to 2024. 14% ref RH42071 9.50 bottle 114 dozen 23. Vinsobres Clos des Echalas, Domaine Jaume 2010 From a small vineyard planted in the heart of the village, mourvèdre and grenache are planted on a steep slope with each vine attached to a stake or échalat as in the Northern Rhône. Both varieties are harvested and fermented together and then aged in barrel for 18 months. This is a full-flavoured, full-bodied red, complex and long with a marked taste of spice, dried herbs, cherry and chocolate. Drink now to 2025. 14% ref RH37211 21.00 bottle 252 dozen
DOMAINE MABY Domaine Maby is found in the heart of the village of Tavel in the southern Rhône, although altogether they own some 60 hectares of vines covering Tavel, Lirac and Côtes-du Rhône, with excellent wines produced in all three colours. The Tavel and Lirac vineyards have the same round pebbles (galets roulés) as are found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. These are precious for the region s winemakers as they conserve heat accumulated during the day and then restore it slowly to the soil throughout the night which helps the grapes attain even better ripeness. Richard Maby, who runs the estate, took over responsibility from his father in 2005 and brought some much-needed enthusiasm back to the business. He is a man full of energy and resolve to improve quality and to put his stamp on production methods, respecting tradition but embracing new techniques too. 24. [2] Lirac Blanc La Fermade, Domaine Maby 2016 A wine that never ceases to amaze for its freshness and vitality. Full-flavoured yet crisp and refreshing, the secret here is the picpoul grape which naturally retains its grip. Drink now to 2020. 14.5% ref RH44201 10.50 bottle 126 dozen 25. [2] Tavel Cuvée Prima Donna Rosé, Domaine Maby 2016 An outstanding example of Tavel, the Rhône appellation that produces only rosé wine. Of a deep pink hue, this is round and richly flavoured, brimming with fruit and touches of spicy complexity. Excellent. Drink this year and next. 14.5% ref RH46881 10.50 bottle 126 dozen 26. Lirac Rouge La Fermade, Domaine Maby 2015 Richard Maby s grenache-centred red seems to possess an added dimension in this great vintage. A dark beauty, infused with liquorice and blackberry fruit flavours. Drink now to 2022. 14.5% ref RH44281 10.95 bottle 131 dozen Traditionally best-known for its rosés, Lirac s approachable, full-bodied reds are increasingly taking centre stage. Its wines tend to be less grenache-dominated than those of its neighbours, with the current trend towards a greater proportion of syrah and mourvèdre in the blend, giving the wines a pleasing firmness and a rich, silky spiciness. LE CLOS DE CAZAUX The Archimbaud-Vache family owners of Clos des Cazaux is one of the oldest families in Vacqueyras, with roots dating back to 1791. The property is currently run by brothers
Jean-Michel and Frédéric Vache. The family began planting vines in the 19th century, but this didn t become their sole focus until 1957, when a terrible frost wiped out the olive groves that made up the rest of the estate. The estate gets its name from when the property was owned by the Knights Templar. At the time, a cattle grower in this area was called a Chazal, but this word evolved over the years into Cazaux. The family began bottling their wine under the name Clos des Cazaux in 1959 and have never looked back. 27. [1] Vacqueyras Blanc Les Clefs d Or, Clos des Cazaux 2015 White Vacqueyras is rare yet Clos des Cazaux makes it one of their star wines. The key is the clairette grape which gives the wine grip and freshness, with roussanne and grenache blanc bringing flavour and body. Crisp, dry and balanced yet with the generosity of the 2015 vintage. Drink now to 2020. 13.5% P ref RH46311 12.95 bottle 155 dozen One of southern France s oldest grape varieties clairette produces fruity white wines with high alcohol and low acidity and flavours of fennel, apple, lime, peach and apricot. 28. [2] Magnum of Vacqueyras Blanc Vielles Vignes, Clos des Cazaux 2015 A stand-out white Rhône made from old vines with the clairette grape at its core. Wonderful fruit, full-flavoured, floral and long, this is a lovely dinner-party white in a useful size. Drink now to 2022. 13.5% ref RH46324 39.00 magnum 234 six magnums 29. The Society s Exhibition Vacqueyras 2015 Vacqueyras is a key appellation in the southern Rhône and here benefits from all the weight and concentration given by the excellent 2015 vintage. Dark with peppery, plummy fruit and hints of raspberry and cherry. Drink now to 2021. 14% ref RH47001 10.95 bottle 131 dozen The Rhône valley enjoyed near-perfect wine-making weather conditions during 2015. Ideal spring conditions were followed by warm, dry weather through July and then heavy rains in August. Average summer temperatures were even higher than in 2003 (a notoriously hot vintage) but critically the temperature dropped at night-time thereby helping to maintain acidity levels, producing rich, ripe red wines full of powerful fruit flavours. 30. Vacqueyras Grenat Noble, Clos des Cazaux 2014
This is a full-bodied, grenache-led Rhône red, deep garnet in colour and full of ripe, generous fruit flavours of plum and spice yet maintaining lovely freshness on the finish. Drink now to 2022. 14.5% ref RH46791 19.00 bottle 228 dozen Jean-Michel Vache has an enviable spread of sun-trapped vineyards. The hot summers and fully exposed vines usually prompt a harvest up to two weeks earlier than that of the cooler hilly sites of Gigondas. However he does not allow his grapes to over-ripen and discards any split or unhealthy ones prior to fermentation, as these can often affect purity of flavour and acidity levels. These attributes are further preserved by the maturation of the wines in steel and concrete vats. CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE Situated between Avignon and Orange, Châteauneuf-du-Pape has a total vineyard area of 3,200 hectares. Thirteen red grape varieties are traditionally approved, but grenache forms the majority, along with syrah and mouvèdre which give wines their colour, structure, aromas of summer fruits and, with age, their complexity. As well as the diversity of the thirteen red grape varieties, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is characterised by its consistently good terroir. Limestone soils produce full, aromatic white wines with a crisp freshness, whilst to the south, clay soil with galets roulés (small round pebbles) produces full-bodied, wellstructured wines: the epitome of their kind. DOMAINE FONT DE MICHELLE Font de Michelle was created by Etienne Gonnet in 1950 and is now run by Etienne s grandsons Bertrand and Guillaume. Font means fountain or in this case spring ; in other words, a sure guarantee of the presence of water in this arid land. The vineyards are very low yielding and most of the work is done by hand, using no artificial fertiliser or insecticides however a more modern approach is taken in the cellar and the result is softer more rounded wines. 31. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Font de Michelle 2011 In 2011, there is just the one cuvée which means all the old vines including the estate s 100 year old grenache, are all present in the blend. Full bodied, generous and rich with lovely soft, seductive tannins. Drink now to 2022. 14.5% ref RH33231 26.00 bottle 312 dozen
32. Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Etienne Gonnet, Domaine Font de Michelle 2006 Jean and Mickey Gonnet use some of their hundred year old Grenache to make this very full and concentrated cuvee of Châteauneuf. A blend of 70% grenache, with syrah and mourvèdre making up the rest apart from about 5% made up of minor grapes such as counoise, muscardin and terret noir, this is thickly textured and very rich. Drink now to 2024. 15% ref RH19601 36.00 bottle 432 dozen DOMAINE MAYARD The Mayards have been winemakers in Châteauneuf for five generations. The estate consists of a little more than 100 acres of vineyards, mostly in top sites such as the Plateau de la Crau. The Mayard team is brother, Didier, and his two sisters, Françoise, who is the winemaker, and Béatrice. They make several wines of which Clos du Calvaire was the estate s first, produced in the 1920s. 33. The Society s Exhibition Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2013 Rich, dark and fruity Châteauneuf, refined and richly textured with a flavour of ripe fruit and gentle spice. There are hints of fig and bay leaf. Perfectly rounded and ready to drink. Drink now to 2023. 14.5% ref RH40861 18.50 bottle 222 dozen 34. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos du Calvaire 2016 A gorgeous, full-bodied, fruity Châteauneuf from an outstanding vintage. This can be enjoyed relatively young with stews or grilled meat. Drink now to 2025. 14.5% ref RH47811 22.50 bottle 270 dozen CLOS DU MONT OLIVET If the name can trace its origins back to the 16th century, the estate, created by the wonderfully named Séraphin Sabon, has its origins firmly anchored to the 20th century. Clos du Mont Olivet consists of some 20 hectares of vines in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation with another 11 of Côtes-du-Rhône. Typically, the Châteauneuf vines are scattered over the whole of the appellation and if this seems to lack administrative logic, having so many plots is seen as a real bonus as when blended together they are able to create wines of great complexity. The estate makes use of all of Châteauneuf s permitted grape varieties, but for the red grenache naturally dominates with syrah, mourvèdre and cinsault in support and with trace elements of all the others helping to create complexity. Winemaking is on traditional lines with little attempt made to extract more than is necessary from the grapes for Mont Olivet wines are built on elegance rather than inky concentration.
35. Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Clos du Mont Olivet 2013 A balanced, fruity Châteauneuf which is full-bodied yet has surprising elegance and freshness, with a twist of spice on the finish. 2013 was a very low-yielding vintage on account of a cold and wet spring however a late Indian Summer came to the rescue with a harvest that stretched late into October. Drink now to 2025. 14.5% ref RH43161 27.00 bottle 324 dozen DOMAINE DU VIEUX TÉLÉGRAPH The Brunier family have been growers in Châteauneuf for more than a century. Today, they have some 70 hectares of vineyards all centred on the prized Plateau de la Crau which lies to the south-east of the village. Today Vieux Télégraphe is among the top ten estates in Châteauneuf. This is a well-established vineyard with lots of old vines. The vines are trained like small bushes and they re planted at quite low density which allows them to cope with the strong Mistral wind, the typical scorching heat of summer and the arid conditions. Most of the vines are of grenache but among the older plots it was quite common to plant odd vines of other varieties, such as cinsault and counoise, and these other varieties undoubtedly add to the complexity of the wine. Moreover, the Bruniers like adding a little white to the mix and so there are some vines of very old clairette here as well. Vieux Télégraphe is never a wine to drink early. The Bruniers opt for long maceration to extract colour and flavour and a dark tannic structure which ensures that the wines age well. They also make a white Vieux Télégraphe from clairette, roussanne, bourbulenc, picpoul and grenache blanc. 36. [2] Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Blanc 2015 An outstanding white Châteauneuf based on 45% clairette with grenache, roussanne and bourboulenc. Full-flavoured, lemony, herby, well rounded yet dry. Drink now to 2025. 13.5% ref RH46201 44.00 bottle 528 dozen 37. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Piedlong 2013 This is a new wine from the Vieux Télégraphe stable and comes from two plots of very old vines, one being Piedlong itself, the other on Pignan, near Rayas. Daniel Brunier explained just how wonderful these two plots are, both with very stony soil, continuously swept by strong wines. Grenache is king here and accounts for 90% of the blend with the rest mourvèdre. Drink now to 2032. 14.5% ref RH39531 32.00 bottle 384 dozen
Mourvèdre is a grape of Spanish origin (where it is known as monastrell), first recognised as a distinct variety in the 16th century. The variety has small bunches of thick-skinned grapes and gives deep-coloured, full-bodied and structured reds that are typically high in tannins and alcohol. The best examples have intense aromas of blackberries and herbs, with truffle, leather and spice notes coming to the fore with bottle age. 38. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe 2014 Vieux Télégraphe seems to have found a new gear. After a fine 2013, 2014 seems to have all the necessary concentrations of fruit flavours and plenty of body. Drink now to 2035. 14.5% ref RH41421 38.00 bottle 456 dozen