Vieux Telegraphe “La Crau” Chateauneuf-du-Pape (750ml)

Beginning in 1898 with Hippolyte Brunier- a farmer with less than a hectare of land between Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Bédarrides on a high-elevation, stony plateau called “La Crau,” the location of this landed prompted the construction of a communication tower in the late 18th century with the purpose of transmitting telegraph messages between Marseille and Paris. Although the land wasn’t thought to be suitable for growing grapes due to its high elevation (susceptible to all rain, hail, too much sunshine, and Mistral) and the fact that most of the plot was covered with galets roulés (rounded stones), Hippolyte made wine anyway and received positive feedback from his peers. With that, he gradually expanded his vineyards to 16 ha, and then to the eventual 70 ha it is today. Owned and operated in tandem with his wife Maguey, they retired in 1988 and left the business to their sons, Daniel and Frédéric, who have worked to expand the winery even more, introducing a new label known as “Télégramme,” utilizing grapes from younger vines.