Vieux Telegraphe, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, La Crau Rouge

Past its prime for sure, this is like CDP tried to make a tawny port with the spirit… sad

2009 vintage

Ripe red fruits,garigue,peber Still very drinkable and fine with roasted lamb

2001 vintage

If one wants to role play a fire breathing dragon, this is for them. So much heat at the end of this. Nose has jammy and raisinated dark fruits.

2009 vintage

Lovely, still very alive. Great concentration and red fruit

2001 vintage

Really good stuff. Black cherry, anise, garrigue

2009 vintage

I’ve drank through almost the entire case of the 2000 VT over the last couple of years. Initially these did feel very primary and lively but this bottle I think is starting a gentle descent into evolution. Which I think has made it all the more better. It’s still CdP, there is Grenache kirsch and stewed plum but the palate was amazing. The tannins are tea-like and have the quality of a good green tea. That balance of bitterness, woodiness …

2000 vintage

Savoury with Kirsch cherry flavours addled with spices. There was almost a delicacy and lightness despite its weight, and at first gave the impression of being smooth and polished. On reflection though I found the fruit had faded and that astringency and heat came to the fore. This didn’t shine the way I wanted it to. CHP 90 pts

2009 vintage

In a good place. Not fading, and certainly ready to drink. Smooth tannins, black cherry, leather, cassis and licorice on the palate. Fading a little second night.

2012 vintage

Slow-oxed in btl & 2 large Burg shape glasses for 3hrs b4 dinner. Terrific w/ Nita's beef stew watching Ocean's 11 downstairs. Temp outside was well below zero in Mn. The VT has found balance & finesse to tame its once powering grenache on release. For my palate, there are very few CDP producers who can keep Grenache in check. VT is one of the best. Enjoyed every single sip & sniff tonight. Adequate breathing & a lower temp are …

2012 vintage

Quite over the hill. Fruit is gone, not much left pretty unpleasant

2001 vintage

Oxidation. Raisin. Unfortunate

2009 vintage

Fine balance of richness, garrigue, and tertiary notes. Long and supple. Just enough tannins remaining the frame the painting as it were. Very good bottle.

1995 vintage

Having read a few reviews here which were a bit lukewarm, I was a bit apprehensive with this, but my fears were unfounded. Opened three for a family event. A wine of substance with plenty bright red fruit and perfectly mature. It is alcoholic but never tasted hot, rather rounded and elegant with a long savoury finish. Two bottles were decanted for two hours, and one poured straight after opening - there was definitely a difference with the decanted wines, …

2009 vintage

Bright red colour with some fading. Nose is very herbal and aromatic, minty notes with almond and cherry,. Heady. Supple and smooth, tannins now very supple, savoury with chestnut and herbal notes. I think this might need a little longer to open up fully. As it opens up this gets more delicate but complex, subtle floral and fruit notes, dare I say it Burgundian but with a throb of alcohol .

2009 vintage

- Ruby color - Show time! Drink up.

2015 vintage

Have had better bottles of this one. Still alive and showed nicely between an hour after opening and an hour later then turned a bit harsh in the finish with a sharp acid note. As with the previous bottle this is best near term.

2000 vintage

Classic Grenache-dominated CdP that’s in a prime drinking window. Delicious.

2015 vintage

What a gorgeous cuvee shoving refined elegance and envious rich balance. Made from a 70 year old vines, blend of 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah and 5% other permitted varietals, aged for 18 months in oak foudres and concrete tanks, bottled unfined and unfiltered. Medium+ garnet. Medium+ intensity aroma, touch oxy, plums, cocoa, chocolate, black olives, sweet tobacco. Full body, oily & rich yet elegant and balanced. Palate feels bit oxy as well with medium acidity and medium+ fine …

2009 vintage

Second btl. of 6 bought upon release. Drinking beautifully now after 1 hr decant. I found no sign of decline that others have stated. A slightly lighter vintage than 2010, 2007....but very elegant and excellent balance. No rush to drink the others.

2012 vintage

30 minute decant. Roast beef and gravy to pair (Yorkshire pudding of course) Time to drink up. Thin, lacking obvious fruit. A very perplexing wine given my previous experiences. One bottle left, will be on the list to drink soon. Last three bottles have been like this. Uninspiring.

2015 vintage

Good wine

2015 vintage

Quite a bright red. Another success this evening, a wonderful purity of red fruited loveliness jumps from the glass, it is terrific straight away. In fact I felt that as the evening went on the air negatively impacted it, and it became heavier, trended towards darker and stewed fruit - that classic southern prune note. But at the outset this was light and nimble, a heavenly nose that was lifted, sensual and deeply fragrant. On the palate this continued to …

2015 vintage

The Annual Lyon 10 Year Retrospective #27: Rhone (Lyon Valley) : A surprise find in my cellar for this tasting and I forgot to put it on the list! WTF?! This wine had a garnet bowl, clear meniscus, bright reds fruits with a rustic quality. Garrigue, herbs, and leather made it seem "old school" when tasted blind. 93+ then 92 on day 2. Now-2030

2015 vintage

Slightly vegetal nose upon opening but not throwing TCA. Palate is horrible. Can’t drink it. Might be a bad bottle. Had a magnum of this 2 years ago & it was awesome. This one, not so much.

2012 vintage

Really an outstanding wine that is drinking at what tastes like a peak. Full bodied, rich and velvety texture still with strong fruit. Very nicely structured. Decanted for a couple hours before drinking and no tannins. Great wine from great producer.

2009 vintage

From a bottle I've cellared since release. Loads of iodine/medicinal notes with dusty dried cherry in the background. Otherwise quite thin and, while good, not exceptional. Second night was somewhat unpleasant. Another CdP that (with the notable exception of Beaucastel) has really let me down.

2009 vintage

Lush Grenache, still a vivid wine. Smooth and supple, it needed drinking but not too late

2001 vintage

Great, but simple CDP Nose of candied fruits and a hint of leather. Taste is the similar but with more stewed fruits, think Raspberry, cherry, great length and texture and an all round enjoyable wine. A little too over the top for me on the alcohol.

2012 vintage

Ruby red in color. 14% ABV. Stunning nose of red fruits, leather and roasted herbs. Medium body with tremendous acidity. Concentrated and powerful with fading fruits. Kirsch, blood, dried cranberries and white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. This bottle has been perfectly cellared but the fruit has largely dissipated here and the wine was better in years past. Drink in the near term.

2001 vintage

Bit of funk on the Vieux Telegraphe; had originally planned a 30min double decant to blow that off + for sediment followed by slow ox but ended up getting trapped in the pool with the kids for another 3 hours, which meant it took on a fair amount of air. Could feel it become quite tired and a bit oxidized (stewed plums) after although thankfully the overall integrity was still ok. Nice cool peppermint finish. Almost done with the 00s, …

2000 vintage

Some funk and chocolate and mushroom vegetal notes upon opening. After 30 minutes they blew off and everything came together beautifully. Great wine I’ll keep my other bottle for a while to see where it goes

2015 vintage

Initially a bit closed up, decanted 4 hrs. Excellent with ribeyes.

2015 vintage

Intense nose of dark cherries, blueberries, licorice, some coffee, toffee, molasses and eucalyptus. Nice silky tannins, high acidity and long finish.

2012 vintage

We really elevated bbq burgers with this treat. it’s our last bottle, but we really enjoyed it. It hits on the wine spectator review notes. From reading other posts of those with more bottles, this seems to reflect like it will continue to age well for those who have those who have more.

2015 vintage

Decanted off moderate sediment, aerated back into bottle and served. This may have been the best bottle yet of this wine (my old notes start in 2006) with many priors having been enjoyed immensely. Remarkable combo of mature and lively fruit elements. Unanimous "best Chateauneuf bottle" ever by the 5 of us (Rayas excepted).

1995 vintage

2nd of 6 bottles, it's been 3 yrs since I had my last bottle. Aging nicely, the wine is firing on all cylinders now. Red fruits, spicy garrigue, iodine, and tar. Interesting, delicious, and a nice pairing with ribeye steaks this evening. Drink through 2028+.

2015 vintage

With Dean at France-Soir.

2009 vintage

Not my style, but its certainly a style that appeals to many Positives are it is very expressive. Fruit is dark, rich, plush, and expressive on the nose and tongue. Supported by pronounced licorice notes and some chocolate from the oak. Alcohol is high, but it doesn’t taste hot. Very smooth. Just too many jammy fruit notes for me. Consumed from 375 over several hours.

2015 vintage

25 years in this is absolute silk, yet still returns gorgeous mix and red and dark berries and some structure. Just terrific wine, great with lamb, and really loved by all who tasted it. Due to its age, not decanted, but opened and left for a while, then consumed slowly so it could open in the glass. Did not chan ge appreciably after the first 20 minutes. Tons of depth, long finish, spice, some earth and complex aromas with all …

2000 vintage

Yay, a great bottle! This is sensational, leagues ahead of the others in the case. This is both wonderful and irritating in equal measure of course. Fragrant, medium red, pure and succulent, long, an excess of red-fruited pleasure. So tasty, the garrigue overpowers a rainy evening in London, this wine transports. A wine which improves my mood with consumate ease. On day 2 the remaining glass - no exaggeration - fills a *large* room with the aroma of dark fruit. …

2015 vintage

Decanted 6 hours ahead of grilled honey mustard pork chops, potatoes, and seared asparagus with mixed salad (Babingtons were over). Cloudy purple-violet color. This has a nice, floral nose of strawberry blossoms, red lavender, garrigue, and black licorice. The palate is medium and rounding out, bringing a core of blue fruit that transitions into red fruit on the smooth finish. Tannins are super mellow, so I would drink this 2025-2028. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment score: 93.

2015 vintage

This is a premium French red. I had my first bottle at the Ivy in London and been a fan every since. Light red colour with light earth and berry flavours. A joy to enjoy!!

2015 vintage

Ready to go on PnP. Beautiful floral aromas with berries and a hint of blood orange. Kept evolving throughout the evening, become a little more dark and rich as time went on. Medium-full bodied, elegant, complex, and a pleasure to drink. I need a bottle of this in my cellar at all times.

2015 vintage

Decanted three hours. This was in good condition (a few others I have had have not been). Everything in harmony, but fruit has started to fade. Still lovely but I will be drinking my remaining three bottles this year.

2000 vintage

This was singing, and surprisingly fresh. From magnum purchased on release from Berkeley. Still had great structure, soft and matured but no decay. Absolutely delicious with ouefs en meurette.

2012 vintage

Reasonable sediment. Double decanted off. Ready off the pop. Best in the first 3 hours. Stayed strong after, but lost some ebullience. Brilliant wine. Grabs you brightly, but with path into the woods. Def brett influence, leather, fruit sitll there. Now, 7 hours later, it's flattened out, some earth notes forwards more cola.

1995 vintage

PnP. Color is garnet/brick red with some orange/brown on the rim. On the nose: Strawberry, cherry and stewed fruit. On the palate: Strawberry, Cherry, some tartness and earthiness on the finish. Nice mouthfeel. I think it needs to open up a bit but it’s good.

2015 vintage

Home-drinking, Singapore. Totally different from my last bottle in 2022. Lifted and fresh nose of bramble and cherry-pit. Fruit compote on the palate. A bit of tannic bite and heat on the finish. Aged Grenache charachter with no obvious overipeness. Medium complexity.

2001 vintage

Excellent. Didn't feel its age at all. Needed 30-45 to open up. Then singing dried Tabacco red and black fruit with supporting leather and earth and garrigue. What One Wants! Maybe 92/93.

1995 vintage

Still palatable for the first few minutes! Argh!!!

1995 vintage

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Vieux Telegraphe, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, La Crau Rouge

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