Complex earthy-smoky aromas join blackberry and spice, black fruit layered over red. In the mouth, the black fruit is ripe and concentrated, joined by leather, tobacco, smoke, and orris root. Supporting tannins are young but already smooth. Medium-plus in body with a long finish. The winemaker says this old-vines Cristia will last through 2025.

WINE INFORMATION

Etienne Grangeon created this estate in 1942. It originally consisted of two hectares (ha) of Grenache vines. His son Alain, a passionate viticulturalist, took the reins in 1963. He increased the size of the domaine, established its identity (lieu-dit Cristia), and planted other varieties, notably Syrah and Mourvèdre. His children Baptiste and Dominique joined their father in 1999 and expanded the focus to include export. Baptiste was the first to bottle the wines as Domaine de Cristia.

The 20-ha estate lies in the eastern part of Châteauneuf-du-Pape; 90% is sandy-clay soils. Grenache is the dominant variety, accounting for 85% of production. It is a vigorous vine that resists wind and drought well. Vineyards have always been sustainably farmed, and received organic certification with the 2008 vintage. The vineyards are ploughed and weeded by block to manage yields, and sheep manure is the main fertilizer.

The grapes for this wine come from fifty-year-old vines, harvested manually. Selection occurs in the vineyard and grapes are destemmed at the winery. Fermentation takes place in concrete vats with native yeasts. The temperature is cool to allow aromas and flavors to express themselves rather than to achieve major extraction. Press and free-run juice are blended, with the proportion of each determined by the vintage. The wine ages eight months before release, half in one-to-three-year-old barrels and half in vats.

Charcuterie, Cheese, Grilled preparations, Hearty stew, Pork, Sausage, Slow-smoked Barbeque/BBQ Sauce