Vieux Telegraphe La Crau Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2020

One of the most iconic, impressive Châteauneuf estates, Vieux Télégraphe has been imported by Kermit Lynch since the 1980s. This is what the Grenache grape tastes like in the right hands–an amalgam of smoked fruit, spice, flowers and dried herbs. 2020 is being heralded as an excellent vintage already. Early tasting reports and scores are flowery and effusive, much like this wine is proving to be :)

Tasting note: baked cherry, dried orange peel, licorice 

Food Pairings: Porchetta, cassoulet, roast chicken

notes from Livingstone-Learmonth (drinkrhone.com):

notes on La Crau CDP Rouge 2020 Oct 2021 ***** (large barrel) red robe, clear. The nose parades happy red fruits, fruit lozenges, with discreet herbs, soaked red cherries [griottes], is a bundle of appeal, very primary for now. The palate links very well, flows on stylish richness, has a perfumed, rather sultry tone, with really fine tannins well on the inside, great finesse in them. The fruit has a tinkling clarity, is very beau. It’s fresh on the exit, has 30-35% stems included now. It gradually accumulates its depth, is very, very long, stately, aromatic, interesting. 

(jackson: five stars? nearly unheard of from Learmonth. this is a super special note and score)