2019 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape

The 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau is a hugely successful vintage, marked by scents of sun-warmed stones, garrigue, black cherries and black olives. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, it finishes with tremendous length and softly dusty tannins, which should help ensure a long, positive evolution. 96+ points

(large barrel) healthy dark red robe; the bouquet carries weight, sunshine, has a plunge of sultry, perfumed red stone fruits, with spiced sides, a near black raisin presence. It’s a full, generous start. The palate is rich on the attack, unfurls a wave of thick, concentrated content, is broad all through, with pedigree tannins and a note of silk in the texture. It finishes with a lip chomping density, has picked up notes of pine en route, local colour, menthol, smoke. This is beautifully rich and persistent. Here we have an STGT Chateauneuf from a vintage that is speaking very clearly of its sense of place. From 2024, decant it. 5*