Grapelive Weekend Review
By Kerry Winslow
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2008 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” Rhone Red, France.
While everyone is collecting and cellaring the massive and powerful 2007 Chateauneuf, out comes the less favored 2008 vintage, and I understand people gathering the last of the 07’s, it will be a shame if people dismiss these 2008’s. I would recommend trying them and drinking them as your 2007 age away in your cellar. The 2008 Vieux Telegraphe is a wonderful wine and very pure and focused showing beautiful dark fruit with smooth tannins and classic earth and spice, though it is very clean overall with elegant balance. The nose is a fresh wildflowers, mineral spice, hints of meat and lavender leading to a palate of black cherry, plum, wild strawberry, boysenberry and blueberry with touches of game, pepper, cassis, crushed stones and sweet truffle. This is a drink young vintage and while less edgy and intense than is the norm for V.T. I truly adore this wine and think there is more to come too, even if I enjoy it and suggest drinking young, it should fill out and gain with another few years in the bottle. ($70 Est.) 93-94 Points, grapelive
Still available at pre-sale pricing at www.sfwtc.com
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