Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge 'La Crau' Vieux Telegraph 2023

The Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe 'La Crau' is anelegant and majestic expression of the La Crau terroir, once considered almost uncultivable due to the high density of pebbles in the soil and now counted among the most vocated sub-areas of the entire appellation. The La Crau plateau is located east of the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, at the meeting point of the communes of Bédarrides, Courthézon and, indeed, Chateauneuf-du-Pape. A fundamental role in determining the extraordinary level of quality of the wines produced here is attributable to the soil, consisting of molasse dating back to the Miocene epoch, covered by a thick layer of clay and pebbles known as 'galets roulés', literally 'rolled pebbles', shaped over the centuries by the action of rivers and glaciers.

Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe 'La Crau' Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge is made from a blend of Grenache Noir (65%), Mourvèdre (15%) and Syrah (15%), with the remaining 5% dedicated to Cinsault, Clairette and other varieties. The vines have an average age of 70 years and the harvest is carried out entirely by hand with a triple selection of the bunches. After soft crushing and destemming, the must undergoes alcoholic fermentation at a controlled temperature, partly in stainless steel tanks and partly in wooden vats. This is followed by malolactic fermentation and then the long ageing of the wine in large 60-hectolitre French oak casks, containers in which the mass rests for 20-22 months until final bottling, which is carried out without prior clarification or filtration.

The Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 'La Crau' from Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe is dark and intense ruby red in colour. The broad, rich nose is described by vivid fruity hints of plum and blackberry, followed by tones of Mediterranean herbs, balsamic hints of aniseed and deep notes of coffee and cinnamon. The taste reveals structure, power and intensity, with a warm and very persistent progression defined by an elegant tannic texture.