WINE ADVOCATE – YOHAN CASTAING – DÉGUSTATION OCTOBRE 2024

2021 Vieux Telegraphe Rouge (95)

Delicate aromas of spices, licorice, garrigue, dark berries and dark cherries preface the 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau, a medium to full-bodied, layered and textured Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is framed around velvety, elegant tannins, with good depth at the core and a pure, precise texture that segues into a long, delicate and ethereal finish. Superb!

2022 Télégramme (92)

A blend of 85% Grenache and the rest of Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre, the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme offers up aromas of flowers, dark cherries and dark wild berries, followed by a medium to full-bodied, structured and concentrated palate with velvety tannins and a long, dense finish. More austere than previous vintages, this iteration stands out as a commendable rendition within the context of the vintage.

2022 Les Pallières – Racines (94)

A dense, deep bouquet of dark cherries, flowers, spices and garrigue prefaces the 2022 Gigondas Les Racines, a medium to full-bodied, tense and perfectly balanced Gigondas with fine-grained, good depth at the core enhanced by a crystalline, delicate texture and a saline, harmonious finish. Refined, chiseled and intensely perfumed, this wine is a blend of 85% Grenache Noir (40% destemmed) and 15% Syrah and Cinsault.

2022 Les Pallières – Terrasse du Diable (93)

A blend of 90% Grenache Noir and 10% Mourvèdre, the 2022 Gigondas Terrasse du Diable from the Brunier Family (which also owns Domaine Vieux Télégraphe) reveals aromas of dark cherries, mulberries and spices mingled with delicate notes of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, ample and enrobing, it’s velvety on attack with good depth at the core and a long, precise and delicate finish. This is a charming, beautifully executed Gigondas that promises to age gracefully over the next decade or more.