Domaine de Cristia Domaine de Cristia Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2023 750ml

Velvety and seductive, with smoothly polished tannins holding up ripe red currant and cherry flavors edged in iron and baking spices. A bitter cherry pit note at the end contributes to the focused, dry finish, which stretches out. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best from 2026 through 2040. 500 cases made, 125 cases imported.

Plush and generous, with winey red fruit and accents of cigar box and dry spices including pepper and cumin. A touch of cedar polish and a tug of tar integrate nicely with a sandalwood smoke element. Starts off glossy, but the tannins build in power, making for a well-structured finish that’s also juicy and pleasurable. Drink now through 2035.

Lovely raspberry and blackberry purée notes stream through here, with anise, black tea and mineral notes keeping pace throughout. Silky in feel and lengthy on the finish, with the fruit echoing. Drink now through 2032. 1,200 cases made, 300 cases imported. (James Molesworth)

A well-built, balanced and lively red with notes of sweet berries, dried herbs, stones and peppercorns. Full-bodied with velvety tannins and a silky core of berries on the palate. Refined and elegant, with a caressing touch challenged by a lift of peppercorns kicking in toward the finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Crafted from vines planted on sandy soils, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape from Domaine de Cristia has a vibrant, elegant bouquet of dark cherries, berries, rose, violet and lilac mingled with fresh thyme notes. Medium to full-bodied, pure and clean, it has an ample and fleshy core of fruit, suave texture and polished tannins. Comprising 85% Grenache Noir and 15% Syrah and matured for 18 months in both wooden and concrete tanks, this authentic Chateauneuf-du-Pape is worth seeking out.

More perfumed and vibrant than the 2022, the 2023 Chateauneuf du Pape is showing beautifully today, wafting from the glass with aromas of rose petals, dark cherries and subtle smoke. Medium- to full-bodied, enveloping and sappy, it’s elegantly layered, with a fleshy, sweet core of fruit framed by velvety tannins, concluding with a long, ethereal and floral-inflected finish. A blend of 85% Grenache Noir and 15% Syrah, all sourced from sandy soils, this is a precise and refined expression of the vintage, marked by its charm and lift.

Moving to the 2018s from bottle and based on 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah brought up mostly in tank, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape sports a deep ruby/purple color as well as a classic bouquet of black cherries, black licorice, spice, and a touch of Provençal garrigue. It’s medium to full-bodied, has a beautiful texture, the upfront, front end-loaded style of the vintage, and should be drunk in the first decade of life or so. (Jeb Dunnuck)

Vivid ruby-red. Bright and energetic on the fragrant nose, displaying spice-accented red and blue fruit and floral qualities and a hint of herbacity. Juicy and seamless in texture, offering sappy raspberry and boysenberry flavors that deepen slowly through the back half. Closes long and spicy, with repeating florality and round, even tannins that come in late. (Josh Raynolds)

Loaded with upfront sweet berry fruits, Provençal herbs, spice, and exotic flower nuances, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape is based on 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah and aged 18 months in 85% concrete and 15% foudre. It's medium-bodied, pure, and balanced, with a round, mouth-filling mouthfeel and a good finish. This pleasure bomb is best enjoyed over the coming 7-8 years. Drink 2025-2033.

Cristia’s 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape boasts scents of cola, garrigue, raspberries and black cherries. Mainly tank-aged Grenache, with small amounts of barrel-aged Mourvèdre and Syrah, it’s medium to full-bodied, moderately concentrated and dusted with ripe tannins. The house style is one of sandy-soil elegance, and that’s reflected in this entry-level cuvée, which finishes long and silky.