2022 Famille Brunier "Le Pigeoulet", VDP Vaucluse, Rhone Valley, France
There are 40 units left in stock.
ABOUT THIS WINE
The name “Le Pigeoulet” is derived from the foothills of the noble La Crau plateau. The vineyard is divided into two parcels: 3 hectares on the left bank of the Rhône, 15 km north of Avignon; 7 hectares in the commune of Caromb (beneath Mont Ventoux). The blend assembles fruit from both the Côtes-du-Rhône and Ventoux appellations. Grapes are harvested by hand, de-stemmed and then pressed gently by pneumatic press. Vinification occurs in temperature-controlled cement tanks for 15-20 days. The wine ages for 18 months in 50% cement tanks, 50% foudres. The blend is 55% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Carignan, 8% Cinsault, 7% Mourvèdre.
ABOUT THIS PRODUCER
One cannot think of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the most celebrated cru of the southern Rhône, without thinking of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. The Brunier family is legendary in its own right, having been rooted to the enigmatic plateau known as La Crau for over one hundred years. The wines of Vieux Télégraphe evoke the concept of terroir in its purest form: they reflect their dramatic climate, the rough terrain that defines the soil, their full sun exposure at a higher altitude, the typicity of the varietals with an emphasis on Grenache, and of course, the influence of their caretakers, the Brunier family.
Frédéric and Daniel are the fourth generation of their family to farm the land of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In recent decades, they have brought their intricate knowledge of the various terroirs of the southern Rhône to new heights through the expansion of the holdings. Their properties represent a vast variation of soil types, climatic conditions, and grape varieties.
Since purchasing Domaine La Roquète in 1986, the family has complemented their portfolio with additional wines, offering a range of cuvées that showcase the diversity of terroirs within their holdings. The “Pigeoulet” and “Mégaphone” are fresh, rich in fruit, pleasantly representative of their terroir, and easy to appreciate young.
The Gigondas “Terrasse du Diable” from Domaine Les Pallières—a collaboration between the Bruniers and Kermit—showcases a brooding youthfulness, with notes of black olive and licorice, mint, eucalyptus, and rosemary. The rosé—equal parts Clairette, Grenache, and Cinsault—is salty, discreet, and full of brambly fruit and soft citrus notes.
Finally, if you can spring for them, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape bottlings represent the pinnacle of the Bruniers’ terroir and talent. The blanc is one of those rarities sure to leave its mark on any special occasion, and the classic rouge is the family’s crown jewel: a benchmark red revered throughout the southern Rhône.