Domaine de Cristia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Renaissance 2020
(Southern Rhone, France) - [JD 94-96] [WS 93] [VM 92] [WA 91]

About the Winemaker:

Created by Etienne Grangeon in the 1950s, the property originally spread over 2 hectares of Grenache grew under the leadership of Alain, his son, who joined the estate in 1963. Passionate about viticulture, he notably contributed to the expansion of the estate by planting improving grape varieties such as Syrah and Mourvèdre and thus creating the Cristia identity, based on knowledge and respect for its predominantly sandy soils.

Today the Grangeon family owns just over 30 acres, spread across four different parcels: Le Cristia (which is broken into two parts, an upper and lower), Saint Georges and La Roquete. They have a number of old vines, and in a normal year they produce four Chateauneufs, a traditional red and white, and two special cuvées. Their Cuvée Renaissance comes from a blend of 60%, 100 year old vine Grenache and 40% Mourvedre, although in some vintages, a smidge of Syrah is often added to the blend. 

94-96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Also not yet bottled, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Renaissance is 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvedre that’s from the southern portions of the Cristia lieu-dit and the Font du Loup lieu-dit, both being sandy soils. It has a slightly modern vibe due to the new oak but boasts classic Provençal notes of gamey meats, ground pepper, garrigue, and woodsmoke. Pure, full-bodied, and seamless on the palate, it's going to offer pleasure in its youth but warrants 2-4 years of bottle age. It will keep for two decades." (November 2022)

93 Points - Wine Spectator: 
 "A sultry, extroverted style, oozing raspberry coulis and smoked red currant flavors set against cigar box and iron underpinnings. This has a suave texture, with plenty of decadence reined in by the fine tannins and notes of wet earth and singed garrigue. Drinking beautifully now, this will also hold up very well in the cellar. Drink now through 2035." - Kristen Bieler (March 2024)

92 Points - Vinous Media:
"The pale ruby-colored 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Renaissance is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre. It opens with aromas of very ripe and occasionally cooked red and black fruits, dried herbs and a cloud of oak derived notes such as cloves and vanilla. This is not surprising, as it aged for 18 months in a combination of demi-muids  and new oak barriques. Full-bodied and rich, the 2020 Renaissance is a well-structured, modern red which requires a few more years in bottle." Drink 2026-2036. - Nicolas Greinacher (April 2023)

91 Points - Wine Advocate:
"A 60-40 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre aged in one-third new barrels (the rest went into demi-muids), Cristia's 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Renaissance features intriguing aromas of cedar, ripe cherries, toasted coconut and stone fruit. It's full-bodied, supple and easy to drink, but if you prefer a less oaky version of CdP, opt for the regular cuvée." - Joe Czerwinski (November 2023)