DÉGUSTATION PAR JEB DUNNUCK AU DOMAINE – LE 11 NOVEMBRE 2022

VIEUX TELEGRAPHE ROUGE 2021 – 92-94

The Grand Vin is always from the heart of the La Crau lieu-dit and is 65% Grenache with the balance Mourvedre and Syrah. The 2021 saw about 30% stems and is being brought up in foudre. It has a beautiful core of red fruits (strawberries and redcurrants) as well as classic notes of crushed stone, pepper, garrigue, and sandalwood. Playing in the medium-bodied, elegant, seamless end of the spectrum, it has fine tannins and outstanding length. It’s a pretty, silky, impressive 2021 with class.

 

VIEUX TELEGRAPHE BLANC 2021 – 97

The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc might be one of the best examples of this white that’ I’ve tasted. Incredible pear, white flowers, salty minerality, and hints of ripe citrus define the bouquet, and it’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, has remarkable purity, flawless balance, and a great finish. A blend of Clairette, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and Bourboulenc that’s brought up mostly in foudre (there’s a small part in demi-muids and barrel), it deserves 2-3 years in the cellar and will have two decades or more of overall longevity.

 

VIEUX TELEGRAPHE BLANC 2020 – 96

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc is showing even better today than when I tasted it last year. Pear, stone fruits, and crushed stone as well as a kiss of black licorice emerge on the nose, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a great mid-palate, flawless balance, and a wonderful sense of freshness and purity. Give bottles another year or two, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 15+ years.

 

VIEUX TELEGRAPHE ROUGE 2020 – 94

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape also showed well, with a lighter, elegant style that still brings plenty of intensity. Black cherries, mulberries, dried violets, and loamy earth define the bouquet, and it’s medium-bodied, balanced, and finesse-driven on the palate, with ripe tannins as well as a terrific sense of salinity on the finish. Give bottles 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 15+.

 

CLOS ROQUETE 2021 – 94

I always love this white, and the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc Clos Roquete Blanc is no exception. Pure, clean, and elegant, with medium-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe lemon, honeysuckle, and white flowers, it has a pretty, seamless, impeccably balanced profile and is already impossible to resist.

 

PIEDLONG 2021 – 90-92

The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Piedlong comes from a site in the center of the appellation and is mostly Grenache. It’s another pretty, elegant wine from this estate and has a floral character as well as notes of ripe cherries, darker strawberries, spice, and garrigue. It has fine tannins, good balance, and outstanding length.

 

PIEDLONG 2020 – 93

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Piedlong is lighter ruby-hued, and despite coming from pebbly soils, I would have guessed it came from a sandy terroir if tasted blind. Strawberries, cherries, white flowers, and a touch of chalky minerality define the nose, and it’s medium-bodied and finesse-driven on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins. Readers that love a more Burgundian style in their Châteauneuf du Pape should seek this puppy out.

 

TELEGRAMME 2021 – 89-91

Production was down 30% due to frost, but the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Télégramme is solid, with a medium-bodied, fresh, and lively style as well as attractive darker berry fruits, peppery herbs, and a kiss of minerality. It’s an elegant, balanced wine that will drink nicely for 5-7 years, probably longer.

 

TELEGRAMME 2020 – 92

Leading off the 2020s now from bottle, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Télégramme is round, expansive, and has plenty of volume, with medium-bodied aromas and flavors of red and black fruits, ground pepper, and Provençal garrigue. It’s balanced, has ripe tannins, brings plenty of fruit and intensity, and is perfect for drinking over the coming decade.

 

PIGEOULET ROUGE 2021 – 87-88

Mostly Grenache yet with more Carignan due to frost, the 2021 Vaucluse Le Pigeoulet has a charming, forward, delicious, and ready-to go-style as well as classic peppery dark fruits, violets, and hints of flowers. It will be a rock-solid daily drinker.

 

PIGEOULET BLANC 2021 – 89

Coming from the Ventoux and Côtes Du Rhône regions, the 2021 Vaucluse Le Pigeoulet Blanc is a quality white from this estate that has crisp aromatics of sliced apple, pear, and hints of citrus. It’s medium-bodied and nicely balanced on the palate, and one heck of a house white to enjoy over the coming couple of years, if not longer.