2010 Domaine de Cristia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes
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Tasting notes
Possibly rivaling the 2007, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is the standard 100% Grenache that was raised all in smaller, 2-year-old barrels. It's more forward and approachable than the Cuvee Renaissance and has an exuberant, perfumed, hedonistic character. Loaded with notions of black raspberries, peppery herbs, liquid violet and licorice, it doesn't pull any punches on the palate and is full-bodied, massively textured and decadent, with enough sweet tannin to keep it nicely focused on the finish. As I wrote when I first reviewed this wine right after bottling, it's a wine for unabashed Grenache lovers and will also have upward of two decades of life.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Opaque ruby. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, pungent flowers and licorice, along with hints of vanilla and woodsmoke. Deeply pitched, powerful dark fruit flavors show liqueur-like intensity and pick up a smoky nuance with air. Shows unlikely vivacity for such a rich wine and finishes with excellent clarity, length and lingering fruit notes.
Very different in style when compared to the dense, focused Renaissance, the 2010 Domaine de Cristia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes (100% old vine Grenache aged all in 2-year-old barrels) is a total extrovert and is overflowing with sweet blackberry and raspberry styled fruit, licorice, rolled stones, and assorted mineral qualities on the nose. Very full-bodied and downright decadent, this still shows plenty of class and freshness, with superb mid-palate concentration, awesome purity, and masses of ripe tannin. It is a wine for unabashed Grenache lovers and will also have upwards of two decades of life.
(100% grenache, from vines reportedly around 80 years old): Dark purple. Pungent dark berries, sassafras and licorice on the aromatic nose. Lush, potent blackberry and cassis flavors pick up notes of candied lavender and oak spice with air. Youthfully grapey and chewy on the finish, closing with fine-grained tannins, a jolt of sweet black and blue fruits and impressive persistence. (The regular 2010 Chateauneuf and the '10 Renaissance were in a disjointed state in November and impossible to taste so I'll check in on those when they get into bottle.)