Beaucastel v Vieux Télégraphe 1978-1990

A wine pages offline to compare Beaucastel and VT in the top mature vintages. On this occasion, the flamboyant 89 and 90 Beaucastels rather put all the others in the shade.

• 1996 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Rich and concentrated, almost sweet, not as oxidative as I'd expected, fine and expensive tasting, but a bit heavy right now

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• 1988 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Diffident on the nose, there's some nice herby fruit on the palate, and it finishes quite austere and grippy - quietly attractive

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• 1989 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Sweet, funky, mouthfilling farmyard aromas, characteristically spicy, but bursting with energy, finishes fresh and grippy. Wonderful

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• 1990 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Another explosively funky herby nose, not so sweet and arguably finer than the 89, but really they are clearly twins

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• 1988 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Stalky nose, but fine chalky fruit and a satiny texture, finished tart, but this was pretty good

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• 1989 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  A high oxidative pong on the nose, but cleaner on the palate, but lacking in distinction. Fierce grippy finish

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• 1990 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Flawed

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Corked. Clearly a big rich wine under the taint, but the taint was bad

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• 1983 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Fresh, herbal green nose, which meant the smooth creamy palate was all the more surprising. Pleasant easy wine

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• 1985 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Minty nose, smooth and lactic on the palate, but again all a bit diffuse

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• 1983 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Flawed

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  This was corked, albeit not badly, and the wine underneath was so fantastic I drank all of my mine - sharp, grippy, and compelling

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• 1985 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Rich, smooth and creamy, this is soft and very elegant, Beaucastel without its wild side.

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• 1978 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Pongy, oxidised nose, but clean on the palate, albeit indistinct - the oomph has gone

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• 1981 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Rich, gamey nose, and some Beaucastel spice on the palate, but somehow sedate and faded.

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• 1978 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Not wholly clean. Lively acidity, but the flavours indistinct

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• 1981 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Muted nose, light herby fruit, quite attractive

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• 1961 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux 1ère Trie Le Mont 90 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Enticing mature chenin nose, matched the chateauneufs in being smooth and creamy on the palate, but lacking a bit of bite

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• 1990 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux 1ère Trie Clos du Bourg 94 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Deep, tangy, with a gloriously lush nutty palate

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