JAMESSUCKLING.COM – DÉGUSTATION PAR STUART PIGOTT AU DOMAINE LE 7 MARS 2022

DOMAINE DU VIEUX TÉLÉGRAPHE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE LA CRAU 2019

97 pts. If anyone tells you that Châteauneuf is just a big red that’s never elegant, then they need to taste this masterpiece of elegance. So many spicy and savory nuances on the very concentrated but almost perfectly proportioned palate. This is both joyful and serious at the very long, focused finish. Decades of aging potential! Drink or hold.

 

PIEDLONG CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2019

96 pts. This Chateauneuf beautifully marries the delicate floral side of grenache with stunning depth and lovely richness on the mid-palate. Wonderful, velvety finish that goes on and on, making you want more of this great beauty. Drink or hold.

 

DOMAINE DU VIEUX TÉLÉGRAPHE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC 2020

95 pts. Plenty of fresh-nut character, plus notes of bread dough and candied lemon on the enticing nose. Rich and creamy palate, the underlining stony character complementing this very neatly. Long and complete finish with serious textural and mineral complexity. From the Domaine du Vieux Télégraph stable. Drink or hold.

 

LES PALLIÈRES GIGONDAS TERRASSE DU DIABLE 2019

95 pts. Very dense and complex with aromas ranging from black plum to wild thyme, as well as hints of candied orange, smoke and dry earth. In spite of all the richness and concentration of this imposing Gigondas, the slightly rustic tannins give this a lot of drive and accentuate the freshness. Long, chalky finish. Drink or hold.

 

LES PALLIÈRES GIGONDAS LES RACINES 2019

96 pts. This shows the greatness that Gigondas is capable of. A huge wine, but with great structure and aromatic complexity that takes your breath away. Big black fruit, but so many herbal and savory nuances, then comes the long, smoky and meaty finish. Excellent aging potential. A blend of 80% grenache, 8% syrah, 7% cinsault and 5% clairette.

 

CLOS ROQUÈTE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC 2020

94 pts. A powerful and mouth-filling white Chateauneuf with a very mineral personality and excellent textural complexity. The freshness makes this feel lighter than it really is. Long finish with plenty of dried-herb character. Has the potential to age for many years. A blend of 35% Clairette, 35% Roussanne and 30% grenache blanc from 40-year-old vines on sandy soil. Drink or hold.

 

DOMAINE DU VIEUX TÉLÉGRAPHE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE TÉLÉGRAMME 2019

94 pts. Very ripe damson plum, but not a jot overripe on the finely nuanced nose. This powerful Chateauneuf has an excellent balance of generous, fine tannins and richness, the lively acidity lifting the long savory finish beautifully. Drink or hold.

 

SELON FRÉDÉRIC & DANIEL BRUNIER VENTOUX MÉGAPHONE 2020

92 pts. A fragrant and surprisingly elegant Ventoux with a healthy tannin structure on the medium body and nice freshness at the long, mineral finish. Drink now.

 

SELON FRÉDÉRIC & DANIEL BRUNIER VAUCLUSE LE PIGEOULET ROUGE 2020

90 pts. A generous Vaucluse red with plenty of ripe-blackberry fruit and wild-herb aromas supported by supple tannins. Some smoke and pepper at the full, harmonious finish. A blend of 80% grenache, 10% syrah, 5% mourvèdre and 5% carignan. Drink now.

 

DOMAINE DU VIEUX TÉLÉGRAPHE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE LA CRAU 2020

96-97. Such a deep and meaty nose with a slew of wild-herb, savory and subtle balsamic notes. Then comes the expansive and very concentrated palate, which reveals so many spicy nuances as it rolls over the palate, the stunning fine tannins pushing the finish out even further. A grenach-based blend from 60-year-old vines.

 

PIEDLONG CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2020

94-95. This beautiful Rhône red will delight Burgundy fans. A fragrant Châteauneuf, in which grenache shows its floral side. So juicy, but this glides over your palate, the balance of creamy richness and elegant tannins spot on. Long, graceful and delicate finish. A blend of 90% grenache and 10% mourvèdre.

 

DOMAINE DU VIEUX TÉLÉGRAPHE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE TÉLÉGRAMME 2020

91-92. Both bright and fleshy, this is a very good introduction to Châteauneuf du Pape reds. Plenty of damson plum and bright cherry with a touch of plum-cake character. A solid core of tannins keeps the palate dry and straight. Good lenght, if not that complex at the finish.

 

LES PALLIÈRES GIGONDAS LES RACINES 2020

95-96. Enormously deep and powerful, but the full and fine tannins hold this mighty ship on course straight into the sunset. Great forest-berry aromas, but at the finish the wild-herb character expands and expands. Excellent aging potential! A blend of 80% grenache, 8% syrah, 7% cinsault and 5% clairette.

 

LES PALLIÈRES GIGONDAS TERRASSE DU DIABLE 2020

94-95. Deep nose of damson plum and ripest blackberry with subtle savory, soy sauce and wild herb notes. Very powerful and expansive palate with a majoy tannin structure that gives this a lot of drive and energy. Long, concentrated finish with impressive freshness for this appellation. A blend of 90% grenache, 5% mourvèdre, and 5% clairette.

 

SELON FRÉDÉRIC & DANIEL BRUNIER VAUCLUSE LE PIGEOULET 2021

89-90. Vivid blackberry fruit and slightly sappiness on the palate make this a refreshing red, in spite of the fullish body. Gently tannins support the clean finish nicely.

 

SELON FRÉDÉRIC & DANIEL BRUNIER VAUCLUSE LE PIGEOULET BLANC 2021

89-90. Quite some yeasty character from sur-lie maturation with ripe yellow apple character and some herbal freshness. Generous body with discreet fruit, but a clean finish.

 

LES PALLIÈRES VIN DE FRANCE AU PETIT BONHEUR 2021

91-92. This pale rosé from the Gigondas appellation is all about textural complexity and elegance. Delicate peach and melon character. Long and supple, but clean finish.