2018

96 points

JEB DUNNUCK

Toasted out of barrel, the 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes shows the vintage style perfectly with its ripe, rounded, incredibly sexy profile. Giving up lots of dark fruits (cassis, blackberries), ground herbs, violets, and spicy oak, it's medium to full-bodied, with good acidity and loads of character.

94 points

WINE CELLAR INSIDER

Deeply colored with a touch of smoke, wild cherry, herbs, pepper, oak and mint, the wine is juicy, sweet, rich, long and focused. The wine was made using 100% old vine of Grenache.

DECANTER

Aromatic thyme and rosemary-flecked red berries here with cedar oak that is well-integrated and adds an aromatic incense element. It's deep, very pure, resonant and ripe and very well balanced, with no excess acidity to the sweet ripe fruit. The tannins are subtle, a fine patina over your palate. This will be delicious young, but try to leave it for at least 10 years, when it will be even better. 100% old-vine Grenache from the lieu-dit Cristia sandy soils. Matured in barriques and demi-muids for 18 months, one-third new oak. Drinking Window 2020 - 2035.

95 points

(Tasted by Matt Walls at 2018 primeur tasting, Rhône Valley, 01 Oct 2019)

92-94 points

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE

I failed to discern a qualitative difference between the 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes (pure Grenache) and the 2018 Renaissance (which includes 40% Mourvèdre). This wine features bold cherry flavors, hints of cedar and vanilla from new oak and is full-bodied and velvety on the palate, with a long finish. No doubt further differences will emerge by next year, but for now, between these two wines, let's call it a push.

(08/2019)

96 points

DECANTER

The 2018 was relatively kind to Mourvèdre, and this cuvee contains 40%, the rest made up with Grenache. It has an intense, old-vine Mourvèdre presence; deep, dark fruits and a distinctive, appealing note to the dense, ripe tannins that reminded me of well-worked vintage leather. This has great vinosity and real depth, not always easy to find in the 2018 vintage. The oak work is deft, noticeable for now, but it will benefit the wine both texturally and aromatically in time. Lithe and muscular - a shark of a Châteauneuf. Organically grown on the sandy soils of Le Cristia and La Font du Loup. Aged for 18 months in oak before release, one third in new barriques, two-thirds in demi-muid. Drinking Window 2026-2036.

(Tasted by Matt Walls at 2018 primeur tasting, Rhône Valley, 01 Oct 2019)

96 points

WINE CELLAR INSIDER

Ripe, rich, juicy and fresh, there is a strong sense of purity, sweetness, lenght and intensity and minerality to the spicy, peppery, red fruits on the palate and in the long finish. The wine is made from 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre. This is one of the success stroies of the vintage.

95 points

JEB DUNNUCK

I was able to taste the 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Renaissance from a handful of barrels. This will unquestionably be a concentrated, powerful 2018. All of the samples had beautiful, decadent levels of fruits, good purity, ripe tannins, and solid overall balance as well as nicely integrated oak. This cuvée always has a solid chunk of Mourvèdre, yet it still shows plenty of upfront fruit and texture, even in its youth. I suspect this 2018 will follow suit...

(08/2019)

92-95 points

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE

The 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Renaissance looks like another fine example of this cuvée, which is typically a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre. Hints of plum and black cherries accent raspberries on the nose of this full-bodied, velvety-textured and lush wine.

(08/2019)

91 points

WINE CELLAR INSIDER

Deep in color, the wine is sweet, fruity, fresh, spicy and long. The cherries and black respberry are fresh, vivacious and feel great on the palate, with a nice peppery kick in the endnote.

91 points

JEB DUNNUCK

90 points

WINE ADVOCATE

Cristia's 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape boasts scents of cola, garrogue, 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.

2017

94-96 points

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE

Still in demi-muid when I visited in June, the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes looks to be another terrific vintage of this wine, 100% Grenache aged in a mix of demi-muids, new and used barriques. Hints of cedar and garrigue accent raspberries and black cherries on the nose, while on the palate, this is full-bodied, concentrated and rich. It finishes with velvety expansiveness allied to surprising energy and freshness, even a touch of cracked pepper. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.

(08/2019)

96 points

JEB DUNNUCK

As always, the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is all Grenache from the Cristia Haut Lieu-dit that was brought up in 30% new demi-muid. It shows more classic Grenache characteristics in its black raspberry, crushed violets, pepper, and garrigue aromas and flavors. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, ripe, concentrated wine that strays straight and focused, with beautiful tension and elegance.

(08/2019)

95 points

WINE ADVOCATE

Possessing more concentration and richness than the other Cristia cuvées, the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes - sourced from 95 year old Grenache vines in the Cristia lieu-dit - combines hints of cedar and vanilla from the barrels in which it matured with ripe raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied and intensely flavored, it delivers those things without any sense of heaviness, remaining fresh, silky and elegant from boldly start to long, nuanced finish. Yum!

92-94 points

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE

Still in demi-muids and barrels when I visited, the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Renaissance is a 60-40 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre, again from the sandy soils hta characterize all of the wines frome this domaine. It's full-bodied, plush and round, loaded with black cherries and plums - and just a hint of vanilla on the lingering finish. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes. 

(08/2019)

95+ points

JEB DUNNUCK

Still aging in older barrels, the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Renaissance checks in as a normal blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre from 110 year old vines and the sandy soils of the lower Cristia lieu-dit. It's a sexy, ripe, opulent effort that has loads of ripe blackberry, pot roast, chocolate, and incense aromas and flavors.; Ripe, powerful, and decadently textured, it's a full-bodied, rich, beautiful wine that has ripe tannins, some oak to integrate, and a great finish. 

(08/2019)

92 points

WINE ADVOCATE

A 60-40 blend of Grenache (from 110 year old vines) and Mourvèdre (from 55 year old vines), aged in demi-muids  and barriques, the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Renaissance shows more cedar and vanilla overtones than I personally prefer, with those elements riding over the top of delicate cherry and raspberry fruit and flattening out any garrigue and spice subtleties. Don't get me wrong - it's clearly a fine wine, and will clearly have many fans for its ample weight, velvety plushness and deliciously hedonistic style. I just wish it showed more vineyard-derived complexity instead of oak. Perhaps that will emerge with time.

91  points

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE

Cristia's 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape features black cherries and red raspberries, accented by hints of green peppercorn. A blend of Grenache and Syrah from sandy soils, it's full-bodied and velvety, with just enough grip on the finish to give it shape and definition. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.

(08/2019)

92 points

JEB DUNNUCK

The 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a normal blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre brought up in a mix of tank and barrels. It has a beautiful, sumptuous bouquet of blackberries, black cherries, flowery incense, and spice. Rich, medium to full-bodied, polished, and loaded with fruit, it's one sexy yet beautifully balanced 2017 to enjoy over the coming decade.

(08/2019)