Domaine de Cristia, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

"New superstars from Châteauneuf-du-Pape... The 2003 Cuvée Renaissance is a candidate for the appellation's wine of the vintage" (The Wine Advocate)

Baptiste Grangeon's family estate is a relative newcomer, wines having been sold off in bulk until the 1999 vintage. A slow start ensued with bad corks causing a problem for much of the 1999 vintage (Baptiste advises people not to buy this at any price should they come across it). 2000 was much better and by 2001 Baptiste was clearly a rising star of the appellation. Then came 2002 with the terrible rains which destroyed so much of the harvest. Baptiste adapted as well as he could, cutting down the volume of Grenache in the blend, usually 80%. Seven-eighths of this was discarded so that the final blend was equal parts Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Anyone possessing a few bottles would be well advised to hold them until the end of the decade.

Then came 2003. Baptiste took advantage of the extreme heat to produce a remarkable wine, full yet not overblown. Additionally he considered the grapes were good enough to make a luxury cuvée "Renaissance" which Robert Parker has described as a "poor man's Hommage à Jacques Perrin" (the ultra-expensive limited release wine from Château de Beaucastel).

We are convinced that we have stumbled upon one of the up-and-coming great estates of Châteauneuf-du-Pape (literally: we first met Baptiste and his sister Dominique who runs the business side of things at the Fête de la Veraison in Châteauneuf and promptly visited them at the winery the following day) and hope to continue working with this charming team for many years.