2007 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe "La Crau" Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The 2007 Vieux Télégraphe may be the greatest wine made at this property since the 2005 and 1998. Dense ruby/purple-tinged with an exquisite nose of salty sea breezes, licorice, ground pepper, jammy black cherries, black currants, figs, and plums, this is a full-bodied, rich, Provencal-styled offering with lots of sweet, ripe tannin. It is surprisingly accessible for a Vieux Telegraphe (this wine normally shuts down several years after bottling), but it should have great longevity (25+ years) given its power, full-bodied mouthfeel, and enormous length and richness. This is a brilliant effort from brothers Frederic and Daniel Brunier. (RP) 96+ (10/2009)

From magnum, the 2007 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau sports a deep blood red color to go with its decadent, ripe aromatics. Licorice, hot stone, meat juices, and roasted garrigue come jumping from the glass and the fruit leans towards the plum/raspberry liqueur spectrum. Beautiful on the palate, the wine is full bodied and lavishly textured, possesses loads of ripe fruit, impeccable balance and a long, focused finish. Very approachable now (and I thoroughly enjoyed this bottle) it continues to flesh out with air, gaining both depth and richness. Given the track record of this estate, I don’t see any reason this won’t drink well for 20+ years. Simply a stunning bottle of wine. (JD) 95+ (8/2010)

Packed, in a brawny, muscular style atypical for this lush vintage, with a gravelly undertow to the currant paste, braised fig and dark licorice notes. Picks up even more steam on the finish, with grilled mesquite, mineral and garrigue notes and a long, hot stone filled finish. *Ranked #3 on Top 100 of 2009, Highly Recommended* (JM) (12/2009)

Glass-staining ruby. Highly pungent bouquet offers black fruit compote, olive and floral qualities, along with a slightly high-toned quality that recedes with air. The palate-coating, deeply concentrated cassis and blackberry flavors display a slow-mounting spiciness. Pretty powerful for a wine from this estate, showing more heft and dark fruit character than usual. The finish is broad, velvety and impressively persistent. Long-time fans of this property's usually elegant style might not be over the moon for this wine's virility. (JR) (1/2010)

John Livingstone-Learmonth for The Cradle of The Rhône: "the robe shows some advance past a full red. Game, reduction show in a broad bouquet, one with capacity and red meat depth. It shows the concentration of the year in its red fruit. The attack is elegant, provides a liberal offer of stylish red fruit, with joli clarity. This is developing well. Its freshness has been well achieved, and it serves a rocky tang as it finishes. This is very enjoyable, is a superior 2007 in the freedom stakes, nothing overdone." (11/2015)