JAMESSUCKLING.COM – DÉGUSTATION PAR STUART PIGOTT – AVRIL 2025

Vieux Télégraphe Blanc 2024 – Châteauneuf-du-Pape (95)

A driven, precise and well-composed white with aromas of green apples, sweet lemons, warm herbs, fennel and almond powder. It’s medium- to full-bodied with an attractive, textural mid-palate. Plenty of minerality adds freshness and balance. Flavorful, tactile and long. Drink or hold. (95)

Vieux Télégraphe Rouge 2023 – Châteauneuf-du-Pape (97-98)

In spite of its extreme youth, this great Chateuneuf-du-Pape leaps out at you with its depth of wet-earth, ripe red-berry and dried-flower aromas. Rich and concentrated, but so suave and refined. Incredible length! Can’t wait to taste this masterpiece as a bottled wine!

Télégramme 2023 – Châteauneuf-du-Pape (94-95)

Impressive fragrance and freshness are married to deep mulberries and ripe strawberries, and all this is wrapped around an ample tannin structure on the medium-bodied palate. Plenty of drive at the long, quite compact finish.

Télégramme 2022 – Châteauneuf-du-Pape (93)

An elegant expression of grenache in Chateauneuf, this has a wealth of red berries and summer flowers. The very solid tannins have been expertly crafted, and they build beautifully in the long finish. Considering how the vineyards were hit by hail just before the harvest, this has turned out very well. Drink or hold.

Racines 2022 – Domaine Les Pallières – Gigondas (97)

A textural, vivid and precise Gigondas, exhibiting aromas of dark cherries, cassis, flowers, Mediterranean brush and warm spices. Full-bodied, it has powdery tannins and a refined texture, silky yet lively, sharp and vibrant. Lots of energy and direction. Old-vine character to the concentrated center palate with intense, spicy wild-herb qualities. Flavorful and driven. The finish vibrates for a long time. Drink or hold.

Terrasse du Diable 2022 – Domaine Les Pallières – Gigondas (97)

A scented, lively, layered and crunchy Gigondas red, showcasing aromas of cherries, forest berries, orange peel, dried flowers and baking spices. It’s full-bodied and so silky yet has an intense, vivid character with a dense core of fruit lifted by spices and herbs. Pristine, the tension bringing vitality to the vibrant center palate. Fine tannins. More flowers and wild herbs in the pronounced, peppery and lingering finish. Drink or hold.

Terrasse du Diable 2023 – Domaine Les Pallières – Gigondas (95-96)

A well-rounded, lively and almost floral Gigondas with small red berries, wildflowers and baking spices on the nose, following through to a full body with polished tannins. Seductive texture with supple fruit character to the long, fine finish.

Rosé Au Petit Bonheur 2024 – Domaine Les Pallières – Vin de France (91)

This unusually pale rosé has plenty of almond, melon and nectarine character on the medium- to full-bodied palate. It has soft acidity but a nice freshness, accentuated by a touch of tannins. A still blanc de noirs of grenache and cinsault with a small amount of clairette, all from Gigondas. Drink now.