2011Piedlong2011 Brunier, Piedlong, Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Rhone Valley, France.
The Piedlong Leux-Dits Piedlong et Pignan from Domaine du Telegraphe’s Daniel Brunier is a beautiful Chateauneuf du Pape expression, it replaces the Domaine la Roquete in the Vignobles Brunier lineup, and comes from the Piedlong plateau, high up and is formed from estate Grenache 90%, 70 year old vines, and 10% Mourvedre, 50 year old vines, these stony plots gives exceptional depth and richness. The 2011 shows gorgeous cassis, cassis and strawberry up front with silky tannins, cracked pepper, chalky mineral, lavender oil, grenadine and savory earthy notes. This looks set to serve as a perfect foil to the main Vieux Telegraphe, it is made well and reflects it’s terroir, and it is much more a pure Grenache in nature vs the more boding VT, the Piedlong is much more flamboyant, fruit driven and hedonistic, this is such a pleasure trip, I highly recommend this deeply flavored wine. The bouquet is heady and lively too with wild flowers, truffle, kirsch and raspberry adding to the enjoyment, for those that go nuts for Barroche or Pegau will really dig this sexy new Brunier wine, it has that kind of profile and it should drink well into the next decade, drink from 2015-2022.
($65-87 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive

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