Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes

Cristia
France
Rhône
2020

100% Grenache from Cristia Haut, a vineyard which faces east and north; the soils are a mix of sand and clay. The vines are 100 years old.  

100% destemmed; aged for 18 months in demi-muids, 40% new, 40% two to three years-old, and 20% five years-old.

95-97 points
"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."
Jeb Dunnuck,
JebDunnuck.com
November 2022
95 points
"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"
Kristen Bieler,
Wine Spectator
November 2023
90+ points
"Aged in a fair bit of new oak (roughly one-third new barrels, one-third demi-muids and one-third older barrels), the pure Grenache 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes carries notes of vanilla and toasted coconut alongside hints of plum, cola and stone fruit. It's full-bodied, framed by some slightly drying wood tannins and has a dusty finish."
Joe Czerwinski,
Wine Advocate
September 29, 2023

SKU/Code: 
DB0499-20
Product Line: 
National Portfolio
Wine
Red
Varietal: 
Grenache