Bottle Notes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

1998 Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Bottle Notes

1998 Vieux Telegraphe

The 1998 Vieux Télégraphe was the leading vote getter in the December Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. I decanted the wine for an hour and served with pizza from a local favorite, Zeeks.

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in the Rhone Valley, was founded in 1898 by Hippolyte Brunier. Located on the highest terrace of the appellation, the domaine was named for an 18th century telegraph relay tower located nearby. Today the 173-acre domaine is run by Daniel and Frederic Brunier, the great grandsons of the founder. Vieux Télégraphe is one of the appellation’s most admired estates. The vineyards are planted to 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault and other grapes.

The wine is red at the core with some bricking on the edge of the glass. Brooding with dark fruits, iodine, granite, seaweed, wet pavement and blood on the nose. There is nothing delicate or subdued about this 14 year old wine. Medium bodied and rich on the palate. Flavors of garrigue, pepper, kirsch, asian spices, tar, underbrush, black cherry liqueur, and plum. Great mouthfeel and texture. The finish is long with still substantial tannin. I am fortunate to still have five bottles left of this wine and plan to enjoy them over the next ten years.

My rating: 94 points.

I previously wrote about Vieux Télégraphe in 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape: My Recommendations. The ’10 version of this wine is spectacular and still available at retail. Happy hunting!

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