Domaine De Cristia Chateauneuf Du Pape Cuvee Vielles Vignes 2020

97 POINTS: Jeb Dunnuck
96 POINTS: Wine Direct Tasting Team

100 Year Old Vines; Organic. 

"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."

"100% Grenache, 100 year old vines. Dark and slightly brooding, dense plum and blueberry with a huge whack of sweet Grenache, raspberry, violets, very long and pure, full bodied, lots of spice and garrigue, will develop beautifully into a great Chateauneuf, but it is drinking really well just now."
- Wine Direct Tasting Team

Domaine de Cristia was established in 1942, with only two hectares of vines; at that time, all grapes were sold to négociants. When Baptiste Grangeon inherited the vineyards from his father in 1999, he was the first to bottle as Domaine de Cristia. Today, Baptiste manages the winery with his sister, Dominique, and they have gradually added vineyards over the years, to a total of 20 hectares of vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Ninety percent of their holdings are in the lieu-dit Cristia, with the remaining ten percent spread over three different areas. These parcels are comprised of varying soil-types, including sand, clay, limestone, and galets, and benefit from a cool, fresh north-easterly exposition which allows the grapes and wines to develop supple, elegant tannins. Their Syrah and Mourvèdre vines average 55 years old and the oldest Grenache is over 100 years old.

The domaine follows organic agriculture for all work in the vineyards and has been certified from the 2008 vintage.

ABV: 15%