2018 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Telegramme Chateauneuf-du-Pape 750 ml

The stone-strewn vineyard of La Crau is one of the legendary terroirs of the Southern Rhône. It has been producing marvelously complex wines since the 19th century, its dry-farmed vines reaching deep down through the soil topped with round white rocks called galets roulés, bringing density and mineral power back to the surface—and ultimately, into your glass.

The 2018 Télégramme—the “second” wine of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe—is grown largely on 35-year-old vines located at La Crau, as well as some of the other top terroirs in Châteauneuf. It offers a gorgeous, dark, deep-fruited glimpse into the vineyard and into one of the Rhône’s iconic producers—and it leaves no doubt why, among the second wines of Châteauneuf, Télégramme rules. 

Vieux Télégraphe’s iconic grand vin can be found on the lists of MICHELIN three-starred restaurants like Per Se and The French Laundry, and Télégramme is treated to an abbreviated version of that wine’s élevage. After vinification, the wine is rested for seven months in oak casks instead of the 20-22 months reserved for big brother. The result is an over-delivering and complex Châteauneuf of gorgeous concentration and sun-baked richness—one that gives a great reflection of the appellation’s stony terroir, but is geared toward early enjoyment.

Hailed by Jeb Dunnuck as “unquestionably an outstanding wine” that epitomizes “a delicious, Provençal, ready to go style,” this immensely approachable and food-friendly 2018 is brimming with cracked-pepper vigor and wild raspberry intensity. With it on hand, you’ll have a perfect partner for anything from cassoulet to grilled lamb chops—or just a night around the fire.