We just acquired 9 bottles—carefully cellared since release—of "undoubtedly one of the top vintages ever" of 2016 Vieux Telegraphe. We can remember how this fairy-tale year was also the most fleeting, selling out instantly upon our offer because only 450 cases were imported:
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2016 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape
98 Points - James Suckling:
"Impressive, complex array of wild cherries, raspberries, garrigue herbs, lightly spiced pastry and stony, chalky minerals. Super-fresh florals. The palate has superb texture, roundness, completeness, depth and detail. Powerful yet elegant with powdery tannins and essence-like red fruit. Super-fleshy, supple and dense core, then strong at the edges. Layer upon layer peels away on the finish. Resounding finesse and equilibrium, showing the full potential of the plateau La Crau. Drink or hold." - (August 29, 2018)
97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
Bottled just last week, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape offers a classic, gorgeous bouquet of black raspberries, currants, violets, salty minerality, nori (seaweed wrapper) and licorice. Full-bodied, pure, incredibly elegant, with fine tannin, and a huge finish, this is classic Vieux Télégraphe all the way that has the balance to drink now. Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe is one of the old-guard estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the Brunier brothers continue to make a very classic, age-worthy, and uncompromising style of wine that requires bottle age. The estate is in the eastern portion of the appellation and has a whopping 150 acres of prime terroir, almost all located in the famed La Crau lieu-dit, which is one of the warmer, earlier terroirs in the region. In addition to their reds, they also make a brilliant white. I’ve also included the La Roquete releases here, which are also made by this team. (Drink between 2023-2043)
96 Points - Robert Parker's WA:
"Undoubtedly one of the top vintages of this wine, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau features classy notes of crushed stones and black tea to go along with ripe raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied yet silky, there's more power and richness in La Crau than in Piedlong, yet there's commensurate elegance and finesse. The wine grows in intensity on the finish without ever seeming heavy or overripe, instead offering hints of tea and licorice." - Joe Czerwinski (31st Aug 2018)
95 Points - Vinous
95 Points - Wine Spectator
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- Only 9 bottles are available
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We still have bottles and magnums of the current 2019 vintage as well |
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That's not all from the Brunier Brothers aka The Saints of Southern Rhone:
The latest second label from Vieux Telegraphe, the 2020 Telegramme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, is the finest vintage the Artisan team (and Wine Advocate's Joe Czerwinski) has tasted to date. It's incredible right now and will keep providing pleasure for another decade-and-a-half, easily:
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2020 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe "Telegramme" Chateauneuf-du-Pape
94 Points - James Suckling:
An excellent introduction to Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Notes of damson plum, bitter chocolate and savory on the nose. Rich and dense but with plenty of vitality, and as it flows over the palate more and more spicy, wild herb and balsamic nuances emerge. A cuvee of 80% grenache, 10% syrah, 6% mourvedre and 4% cinsault from a variety of terroirs within the appellation. Drink or hold.
93-91 Points - Robert Parker's WA:
Comprising old vines not from la Crau or le Pied Long (two years ago, the Bruniers purchased eight hectares of 60-year-old Grenache, specifically for this cuvée) and young vines from those lieux-dits, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Telegramme delivers pretty notions of strawberries and raspberries, plus just a hint of chocolate. Full-bodied but silky, fine and elegant, this looks like the finest wine I've tasted under this label—a solid wine of its own. Drink 2022-2032.
92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
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. Drink 2022-2032.
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- Only 14 bottles available
Importer's: $61.00 btl
Online Average: $57.99 btl
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Our Private Collector Sale:
$54.97 btl (1-5)
$51.97 btl (6-11)
$49.97 btl (12+)
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2020 Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas "Les Racines"
96-95 Points - James Suckling:
"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."
95 Points - Vinous:
"Shimmering ruby-red. The bouquet evokes pungent cherry, dark berry, floral, licorice, black tea and smoky mineral aromas. Youthfully taut bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors show excellent depth, and a spicy touch of cracked pepper sharpens the back half. Subtly chewy tannins build on a very long, penetrating finish that leaves bitter chocolate and candied lavender notes behind. Drink 2026-2036." -JR (1/2023)
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- Only 16 bottles left
- The oldest property and vineyards in all of Gigondas
Importer's: $52.00 btl
Elsewhere: $49.99 btl
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Our Private Collector Sale:
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$44.97 btl (1-5)
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$42.97 btl (6-11)
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$39.97 btl (12+)
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More of our best CDP offers are below: click their images to read on: |
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We're down to the last cases of the 98pt Cult Clos des Papes "Mind-Blowing Star of the Vintage" Click the image to read on: |
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99 Points - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
"Make no mistake, this is off the hook! Deep in color, the wine pops with its array of kirsch, black pepper, black cherry, spice, herbs, plum and thyme on the nose. From there the wine coats your palate with layers of opulently textured, silky red fruits with a gorgeous sense of purity and refinement. The wine is made from 100% old vine, Grenache planted in sandy soils not too far from Chateau Rayas. Drink from 2025 - 2040."
98+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 100% Grenache 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Amiral G. is totally brilliant, and I’d put it up against anything out there. Deep ruby/purple-hued, with an incredible bouquet of blackberries, ground herbs, cured meats, and peppery spice, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe, seamless tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. This is pure Grenache magic and will most likely warrant a triple-digit score in 3-5 years and drink well for 15+. Drink 2021-2040."
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Get in touch!
Text → 650-880-3553
Call → 650-917-8080
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