Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 2019

"The 2018 Tinto, the estate flagship, is a field blend from old vines (90+ years) aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak (the rest second use). It comes in at 14.1% alcohol. This shows no more depth than the Contraste, but the rest is far superior—in case you are wondering why to trade up. The intensity of fruit flavor is far stronger. Even while it stays dry and serious, this has much more expressive fruit and a much longer finish that is chock-full of flavor. It handles the wood well. The tannins here are relatively soft too, but here the wine does show more evidence of a backbone to go with its finesse. Elegant overall, this is just lovely—a wine that is a perfect food wine. It will be a popular choice and hard to dislike. The only question becomes whether this can develop into anything more in time. It has a chance to do that, but I'll stay conservative in evaluation just now. In the meanwhile, it is very approachable now. And quite delicious." - Mark Squires, The Wine Advocate