Among the leading names of the Southern Rhône, the La Crau 2023 Blanc from Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe stands out as a work of balance, sculpted by Southern light and the freshness of the mistral. From the legendary lieu-dit of La Crau, a vast carpet of rolled pebbles that store heat by day and gently release it at night, this Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc expresses a vibrant, almost architectural classicism. Beneath the grace of its texture lies the precision of a relatively high terroir, where vines of about 45 years on average draw sap of admirable purity. For lovers of great gastronomic whites seeking an emotion both sunlit and taut, this cuvée offers a luminous answer, marrying palpable minerality, crunchy white fruits and delicate floral notes. Everything here celebrates restraint, the virtuosity of a historic estate and the elegance of a vintage with particularly defined contours.

Assemblage et vinification

This Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc is born from an emblematic appellation blend, with Clairette dominating at around 40–45%, supported by Grenache Blanc at 25–30%, Roussanne at 15–25% and Bourboulenc at roughly 10%. The harvest is done by hand, with a meticulous double sorting in the vineyard and a further sort in the cellar, ensuring the integrity of the grapes. Vinification favours gentle extraction to preserve aromatic brightness and the natural straightness of the terroir. The measured, precise ageing combines barrels, 600-litre demi-muids and foudres, bringing complexity and breathing room without marking the wine. The oak here acts as an elegant punctuation, serving the substance rather than as an ornament. The result is a white of pure expression—ample but never heavy—whose saline thread and freshness form the estate's signature.

Notes de dégustation

• Appearance: Crystalline luminosity and a purity of sheen, with a brightness that announces the vigour and finesse of the vintage.
• Nose: A persuasive bouquet of noble white flowers—acacia and honeysuckle—lifted by hints of mirabelle, crisp pear and a touch of citrus. A stony, airy note recalls the minerality of the pebbles.
• Palate: A straight, delicate attack, a textured, vibrant and sapid mid-palate. White fruit sits on a saline framework, fine bitters of great nobility and a long finish balanced by perfectly integrated freshness.

Température de service et conseils

Serve between 10 and 12°C in wide tasting glasses to promote aeration and reveal the complexity of the aromas. Opening the bottle a few minutes before service refines the aromatic delivery and highlights the texture. This wine can be cellared away from vibrations, with a cellaring potential of 5 to 10 years, during which it will gain light honey, dried fruit and dried flower nuances while preserving its mineral thread.

Accords mets et vin

• Gastronomic aperitifs: Iberian ham shavings, puff pastry bites with mushrooms, thin vegetable tart with seasonal produce.
• Seafood: roasted line-caught sea bass, sea bream with fennel, grilled lobster with lemon butter.
• Cream-based dishes: farm chicken with suprême sauce, green asparagus risotto, pike quenelles with a light sauce.
• Vegetal terroirs: herb ravioli, roasted root vegetables, Mediterranean cuisine with mild olive oil.
• Cheeses: fresh goat cheeses, flower-patterned tomme, young Comté with a melting texture.

Moments de dégustation

La Crau 2023 Blanc suits both intimate moments and carefully set tables. It naturally finds its place when elegance, restraint and a lasting impression on the palate are sought.

• For a spring lunch where freshness calls for white flowers and a caressing salinity.
• During a gourmet dinner where culinary precision and long aromatic persistence are matched.
• As a thoughtful gift for a lover of great Rhône whites, a fan of terroir-driven wines and purity of expression.

Caractéristiques

• Name : La Crau 2023 Blanc, Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
• Appellation : Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
• Type : Dry white wine
• Vintage : 2023
• Grapes : Clairette 40–45%, Grenache Blanc 25–30%, Roussanne 15–25%, Bourboulenc 10%
• Alcohol : around 14%
• Ageing : aged in barrels, demi-muids and foudres
• Format : bottle, magnum available
• Cellaring : 5 to 10 years
• Serving temperature : 12°C