ZF987 Domaine de Cristia Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes 2022
Price: $168/bottle
Type: Red Wine
Grape Varieties: 100% Grenache
Region/Level: Côtes du Rhône
ABV: 14.5%
Volume: 750ml
Rating
James Suckling 93 pts
A dense, generous and fruity red from old vines. It shows notes of dark cherries, baked plums, sweet spices and some grilled meat. It’s full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Structured yet elegant, with a delicious and succulent core of cherries and blood oranges on the palate. Lively and concise, with a focused and flavorful finish. From organically grown grapes.
Winery
Domaine de Cristia is located in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation of the Rhône Valley in France.
Owned by the Grangeon family, the estate has been passed down through generations. Situated in the eastern part of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, it covers 58 hectares. Founded 70 years ago by Etienne Grangeon, the estate initially consisted of only 2 hectares of Grenache. Her son, Alain, joined the management in 1963. Passionate about viticulture, he expanded the vineyards and added grape varieties such as Syrah and Mourvèdre. Based on his expertise and understanding of the terroir, Alain gradually built the estate's reputation. In 1999, Alain's two sons, Baptiste and Dominique, joined their father. They focus on selecting the best plots of land to ensure the production of high-quality wines with excellent aging potential, intended for both sale in France and export.
Region
After three generations of effort, Château Christia now owns 58 hectares of vineyards, encompassing appellations such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes-du-Rhone Villages, Côtes-du-Rhone, and Vin de Pays. The soils of these vineyards are 90% sandy clay. The cool climate of the vineyards is conducive to the development of soft, elegant tannins in the grapes. The winery's primary red grape variety is Grenache, accounting for nearly 85% of the planted vineyards. This variety has excellent resistance to wind and dryness, making it well-suited to the climate of Provence, producing wines with aromas of black fruit, cherry, and blackcurrant, as well as animalic notes. Another 10% is Syrah, a variety with good antioxidant properties. Syrah wines are deep in color, with fine tannins, and aromatic notes of raspberry, blackcurrant, violet, and pepper. The remaining 5% is Mourvedre. The winery's white wine is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussane, and Bourboulenc.
Château Christia's vineyards are managed according to organic farming standards as much as possible, and received official organic certification in 2008. Managers do not use chemical herbicides or pesticides, ensuring the ecological balance of the vineyards.
Regarding winemaking
The grapes are hand-harvested in mid-August, at which point they reach ideal ripeness and a perfect balance of acidity and sugar. After harvesting, the grapes undergo rigorous selection to ensure that only the highest quality fruit enters the winemaking process.
The winemaking process takes place in stainless steel tanks using low-temperature fermentation (approximately 15-18°C) to preserve the grapes' fresh aromas and bright acidity. After fermentation, the wine is aged in stainless steel tanks for seven months, avoiding the excessive influence of oak barrels and highlighting the pure flavors and minerality of the grapes themselves. Throughout the process, the winery uses natural yeasts for fermentation, allowing the wine to express a more authentic terroir and personality.
