Vieux Telegraph Chateauneuf du Pape 2004 - 1.5L

92-94 points Robert Parker

The 2004 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape, which is a selection of the oldest vines of the estate, is a stunning wine made from a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, and the rest various other red varietals. There are 17,000 cases from their huge holdings in the famed eastern sector known as La Crau. This wine has deep ruby/plum color and a sweet nose of kirsch liqueur, licorice, and salty sea breezes. This is a top-notch Vieux Telegraphe, and I could tell that Daniel Brunier thinks it’s the finest he’s made since 1998. The tannins are sweet, the wine full-bodied, but certainly capable of 15-20 years of evolution. In fact, in most cases, the top vintages of Vieux Telegraphe tend to be rather stubbornly closed for 4-5 years after bottling only to reemerge authoritatively.