| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Rhône > Southern Rhône > Châteauneuf-du-Pape |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Between 1978 and 2007, this 1998 is the greatest Vieux Telegraphe that was produced. It has taken a good decade for this wine to shed its tannins and come out of a dormant, closed period. It has finally emerged, and notes of iodine, seaweed, black currants, incense, and sweet cherries as well as hot rocks jump from the glass of this full-bodied, powerful wine. It possesses considerable elegance and purity, along with loads of raspberries and incense, in a round, juicy, rich style that is just emerging from the closet. The wine is still youthful and a pre-adolescent in terms of its ultimate evolution. Approachable now, it will continue to evolve for another 15-20 years. Bravo!
Good full medium red. Complex nose melds raspberry, redcurrant, humus, smoke, leather, tobacco, minerals, spices and fresh herbs. Sweet and supple but with bright acids and an exotic suggestion of white fruits keeping the mid-palate fresh. There nothing thick about this juicy, intense, very young wine. Finishes with a firm dusting of tannins. This should continue to evolve for at least another decade. (I should note that this third bottle was a charm, as my first two, though seemingly firm and youthful as well, showed a slightly musty, fungal quality that gave the finish a dry edge.)
The powerful, dark ruby/purple-coloured 1998 Châteauneuf du Pape…. has all the trappings of a profound Vieux Télégraphe and looks to be the estate’s finest wine since their colossal 1978.
