The 2011 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is a blend of 40% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc and the rest Roussanne and Bourboulenc from 50-year-old vines. Aged in tank, foudre and, occasionally, demi-muid, it exhibits complex aromatics of rose water, buttered citrus, crushed rocks and spring flowers. The Bruniers have one of the more significant holdings of white grapes in Chateauneuf du Pape, a whopping 16 acres that produce 2,000 cases of white wine. The 2011 should drink well for 4-5 years. The Brunier family continues to turn out a beautiful array of wines, ranging from its value-priced Le Pigoulet and new entry called Megaphone, to their top-of-the-line, world-class Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape. The estate’s second wine, Telegramme, possesses one of the most innovative and charming labels in the wine world. This estate is somewhat unusual in that it has 135 acres of contiguous parcels in the famous La Crau sector of Chateauneuf du Pape. It has one of the most precocious terroirs in the appellation, and is often among the first estate’s to harvest because of La Crau’s microclimate. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524