Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A seriously concentrated, full-bodied Châteauneuf-du-Pape that has hardly budged since release, the 2007 Domaine de Cristia Renaissance (60% tank aged Grenache and 40% barrel aged Mourvèdre) is still primary and youthful, with blockbuster aromas of blackberry liqueur, vanilla, graphite, mineral, roasted meats, and subtle garriuge on the nose. Thrilling stuff on the palate, with awesome purity, decadent fruit, and solid underlying structure, this thrilling 2007 needs another 3-4 years of bottle age, and should drink well over the following two decades.
Rating: 95+ -
Wine Spectator
Very plump and ripe, with black cherry, plum and blackberry fruit flavors that verge on jammy, before fresh spice, star anise and floral notes chime in to give added definition and length. Flaunts the showy side of the vintage. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2025. 500 cases made.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The monster wine is the inky purple-colored 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Renaissance. This wine has only been made by Baptiste in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007. It is a blend of 60% Grenache and 30% Mourvedre, with the balance Syrah from 50- to 100-year-old vines. Despite the fact that there is only 30% Mourvedre in the blend, it seems to be the Mourvedre that dominates the wine at this stage of its development. It is very tannic, but the tannins are sweet and ripe, and the color an opaque purple. The wine displays notes of roasted meats, incense, and flowers, in a super-powerful, layered, multi-dimensional style. However, patience is required, despite the fact that this is a softer, more supple version of the behemoth that Cristia produced with this cuvee in 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.