2009 Domaine de Cristia Côtes du Rhône rouge
We tried the 2007 Domaine de Cristia Côtes du Rhône in our home tasting last year, at which time we concluded that this 100% Grenache wine was “good” and worth pursuing. I guess that other people felt the same because it disappeared after only a few weeks from the shelves of my local wine shop. Recently the wine re-appeared in its 2009 guise. Still 100% Grenache, we liked it even more than last time around.
Domaine de Cristia is interesting insofar as they aren’t really that old: only seventy years or so per their web site. That’s sure different from some of these other places like Mas de Libian that has been family owned since 1670. But new is good!! And they’re still older than anything interesting in California.
Cristia is a family owned and operated winery. They’ve acreage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Côtes du Rhône and even the humble Vin de Pays designations. When they first started out all of their vines were Grenache. Perhaps that’s why this delightful red is the pure thing? Since they’ve accumulated more vineyards and planted some syrah and mourvèdre, though you don’t need that here.
2009 Domaine de Cristia Côtes du Rhône rouge: 100% Grenache. The wine is a pleasing red color. We detected a nose of mulberry, strawberry, raspberry and camphor. It tasted almost fizzy, like it needed more time in bottle or decanting. It had a good body with a decent finish. We noted red berries and a little cola. Hegui remarked, “I like it. It tastes a little like pinot noir to me.”
Next week, if it is still available, I’m going to get a case.