Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine la Vieux Telegraphe 2019

Vieux Télégraphe is one of the most well known and reliable of Châteauneuf labels and in the hands of the skillful Brunier brothers and their family it's not hard to see why. Fruit is all hand-picked and aged in large French oak vats and is blend of about two thirds Grenache, with Syrah and Mourvedre making up the remainder of the blend along with a small proportion of other varieties from vines with an average age of 60 years. Not one of the hefty Châteauneufs, it's classy and refined but still packs plenty of richness up front. There's plenty of ripe forest fruits and sweet red cherries which are well held together with a good structure, well judged tannins and taut minerality followed up with a pleasing herbal edge at the finish.

As always it's very well balanced and elegant and would partner well with game, or pork dishes.

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe is one of the top estates in Châteauneuf and gets its name from an old telegraph station that used to be on their land. The Brunier family has been running things since the late 1800s. Their vineyards sit on the famous Plateau de la Crau, a stony area covered with the smooth stones known as galets roulés, perfect for growing top quality Châteauneuf. For Châteauneuf aficionados Vieux Télégraphe is a byword for excellence.