2019 Chateauneuf du Pape

The base 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape from Cristia is a terrific effort well worth seeking out. Black cherries, blackberries, ground pepper, orange blossom, and assorted spice notes all emerge on the nose, and this puppy is up-front, medium to full-bodied, and ready to go, with a soft, delicious style ideal for drinking over the coming 7-8 years. This was another beautiful lineup from winemaker Baptiste Grangeon, who fashions a bevy of singular Châteauneuf du Pape from the Cristia lieu-dit located in the heart of the appellation and more sandy soils. Their base Châteauneuf du Pape is always worth drinking and has a Provençal yet fruit-forward style. Their Renaissance cuvée, which includes a big chunk of Mourvèdre and sees some new oak, is always slightly more modern styled yet still oozes Provençal charm. It almost always benefits from bottle age. Lastly, the Vieilles Vignes is all Grenache from very old vines and is brought up in tank and used barrels (it saw some new oak in the past). This is a Grenache lover’s dream and is unabashedly ripe, sexy, and exuberant. I’m just now finishing a case of the 2005, which is still going strong, so it has the capacity to evolve for a solid 15-20 years.

Vivid ruby. Aromas of mineral-tinged red berries, incense and cola are accompanied by a floral nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Appealingly sweet and seamless in texture, offering juicy black raspberry, cherry, spicecake and licorice flavors that are braced by a core of juicy acidity. Finishes smooth and long, with even tannins and lingering floral pastille and spice notes.