Domaine de Cristia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2020
(Southern Rhone, France) - [JD 95-97] [WS 95] [JS 93] [VM 93]

About the Winemaker:

Created by Etienne Grangeon in the 1950s, the property originally spread over a mere 2 hectares of Grenache grown 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 improved 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. 

95-97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Not yet bottled, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is all very old vine Grenache from the sandy soils of the Cristia lieu-dit. Brought up in demi-muids and a mix of new and used barrels, it gives up a rocking bouquet of blackberries, ripe cherries, licorice, toasted spices, and violets. It's gorgeous on the palate as well and is medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, elegant texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's rock star stuff that I'd buy in a second." (November 2022)

95 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Concentrated but not weighty, this has an ethereal quality to its attractive licorice, cherry pie and fragrant incense notes, shored up with chalky tannins and a dusting of graphite that offsets the warmth. Beautifully textured, with bitter plum and mineral notes alternating with holiday spices and apple wood smoke stretching out across the finish. Drink now through 2040." - Kristen Bieler (March 2024)

93 Points - James Suckling:
"The intense clove aroma is at the outer edge of typicity for this appellation. However, this Chateauneuf is simultaneously savory, dry and surprisingly elegant through the long balsamic and spicy finish. A pure grenache. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold." - Stuart Pigott (May 2023)

93 Points - Vinous Media:
"Entirely made from old vine Grenache, the 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes turned out well. It delivers pungent aromas of raspberry jam, strawberry compote, red and black plum, dried herbs, licorice, cloves, wood smoke and vanilla. The oak-derived aromas and flavors are very much up-front and will require some time to integrate. It’s impossible to ignore the underlying high quality, however, confirmed by ever-so-velvety tannins and refreshing acidity." Drink 2026-2036. - Nicolas Greinacher (April 2023)