Domaine de Cristia Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2019 (Southern Rhone, France) - [JD 97] [WS 96] [DM 94] [WA 91+]

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.  Ratings & Reviews 97 Points - Jeb Dun