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The story of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe began in 1898, when Hippolyte Brunier planted the first vineyard on the La Crau plateau — a site that remains the heart of the estate to this day. The name “Vieux Télégraphe” originates from an 18th-century telegraph station that once stood atop the same hill where the wines are made today. Since then, the estate has grown into one of the most influential names in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, embodying the classical expression of southern Rhône winemaking.
Winemaking Philosophy
The estate is guided by a commitment to producing wines that faithfully express the uniqueness of their terroir. All the grape varieties — ‘Grenache’, ‘Syrah’, ‘Mourvèdre’, ‘Cinsaut’, ‘Grenache Blanc’, ‘Clairette’, ‘Roussanne’, and ‘Bourboulenc’ — grow within a single vineyard mass on La Crau, cultivated according to traditional methods. The vines, often 50 years old or older (with some parcels of ‘Grenache’ even older), produce low yields of exceptional concentration. Grapes undergo a rigorous double sorting to ensure only the finest fruit is used. Grapes from younger vines are vinified separately for the estate’s second wine, “Télégramme,” while the flagship “Vieux Télégraphe” represents a mature, structured interpretation of the terroir. The wines are aged in large oak foudres, enhancing longevity and complexity without excessive oak influence.
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France
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Wine Style
Vieux Télégraphe wines are renowned for their power, structure, and distinct character.
Prestigious Vineyards
The La Crau plateau is one of the most iconic terroirs in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The vineyards are covered with galets roulés — large, rounded river stones that absorb heat by day and release it at night. Beneath lies a limestone-clay subsoil with stony fragments that lend the wines structure, balance, and intensity. Harvest and vinification remain entirely traditional: grapes from decades-old vines are hand-harvested, double-sorted, and aged in large oak foudres, preserving the estate’s authentic style.
Aging and Drinking Window
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe wines are crafted to be enjoyed both young and after extended cellaring. In their youth, they charm with fruit purity and aromatic openness, while their true potential unfolds over 10 years or more. With age, the wines develop complexity, depth of texture, and refined spice-mineral nuances, standing among the great, age-worthy classics of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
