We are delighted to offer the brand new release of 2018 Vieux Telegraphe and Domaine Les Paillieres.
2018 was not a very easy year for the vignerons, a warm, wet spring and early summer brought on a substantial amount of mildew which resulted in a huge loss and in some cases total loss of crop across the Southern Rhone. When the summer finally arrived in late July conditions were warm and dry throughout and the grapes were harvested perfectly ripe, with superb concentration.
Production throughout the Famille Brunier stable is down in 2018, in the case of Vieux Telegraphe by some 30%. With the hugely popular Piedlong - none was made at all.
2018 Vieux Telegraphe is beautifully elegant, and fans of a more classically ethereal Chateauneuf-du-Pape will love this release. The tannins are fine grained and perfectly integrated. The blanc is wonderfully fresh, clean and bright at the moment with the oak giving it some richness on the palate - again superb.
Finally the customer favourite of Les Racines in Gigondas has the lowest production in it's history at just 11 hl/ha! The wine is brilliantly concentrated but with a suppleness that is typically Domaine Les Pallières - simply excellent.
2018 Vieux Telegraphe
93-95 Points (Jeb Dunnuck)
£235 per 6 bottles
£245 per 3 magnums
The grand vin is the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape. It's an elegant version of this cuvée, offering beautiful blueberry, raspberry, crushed violet, graphite, and crushed rock-like minerality. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and balanced, it’s polished and seamless, yet has plenty of tannins as well as richness, and is going to evolve beautifully.
2018 Vieux Telegraphe Blanc
93-95+ Points (Jeb Dunnuck)
£210 per 6 bottles
A blend of Clairette, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and Bourboulenc brought up mostly in foudre, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc offers a more crystalline style with its white peach, crushed citrus, white flower, and obvious minerality. Clean, pure, and chiseled on the palate, it has good concentration, an almost red wine-like structure, and a great finish. It's going to age beautifully.
2018 Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas Les Racines
90-92+ Points (Jeb Dunnuck)
£112 per 6 bottles
£118 per 3 magnums
The 2018 Gigondas Les Rancins comes from older vines and slightly deeper, more north-facing parcels around the estate. It offers darker notes of blackcurrants earth, ground pepper, truffle, and leafy herbs as well as a more concentrated, tannic style on the palate.