The Rhône Valley in France is a veritable treasure trove of wine. There's truly something here for every wine lover, whether it's a stately Châteauneuf-du-Pape red, or just an inexpensive, yet beautifully crafted regional wine.
Cristia is one of the hidden gems of the region: The Ventoux.
The Ventoux AOC is a gorgeous region, rich in biodiversity. The area is home to a wide variety of rare and endemic plant species in addition to a vibrant and diverse range of fauna including deer and birds of prey. On the slopes of Mt Ventoux, amid white oak, holm oak, cedar, beech, pine and larch, the Mediterranean and Alpine worlds meet in harmony.
Vineyards in this region share the land and mingle with groves of olive trees, fields of lavender and patches of garigue -- the wonderfully aromatic collection of scrubby flora that includes thyme, rosemary and savory.
Domain de Cristia was created by Etienne Granjon 70 years ago. Initially, the Domain was limited to only 2 hectares of vineyards, planted entirely with Grenache vines. Thanks to the driving force of Etienne's son Alain Grangeon, their vineyard holdings significantly increased. A passionate winegrower, Alain contributed to the expansion of the Domain, planting Syrah and Mourvedre to complement their Grenache holdings. In 1999, his son Baptiste and daughter Dominique joined Alain and continue to manage the family properties today.
Here's a quote from their website that nicely sums up their philosophy:
"Above all, our aim is to produce wines that we are proud of. Of prime importance are finesse and elegance. From our Vin du Pays to our Châteauneuf-du-Pape, we invite you to discover the wines of Domaine de Cristia.
In addition, we offer a range of wines from the Rhône Valley, brought together under the Cristia Collection label."
Once again, we have a talented, well-respected vigneron, and when we have a look at their value-oriented wines, "The Cristia Collection" label, there's a quality lineage that drills directly down to these superb entry-level wines.
On to what's in the glass...
This medium-bodied best-buy Ventoux rouge is almost entirely Grenache with just a touch of Syrah and Mourvedre, lending an additional layer of finesse. The family sources the fruit for this release from top properties all throughout the Ventoux and the end result sure shows it!
In the glass, it's all about savory red fruits, especially raspberry, framed with notes of garigue. The smooth palate has great brightness and lift and there's just enough soft tannin present to be a winner at the dinner table. This is another perfect "Tuesday Night" wine that will shine with or without food and will be a go-to for Hammond me when the neighbors stop in for a glass.
On a side note, I'll have some of the Cristia domain wines in stock soon. They're beautiful wines, and while not in the bargain range, they're great wines for the weekend and special occasions. Keep an eye out -- especially for their Châteauneuf-du-Pape!
Regular AWM Price: $14.99
By the solid case or mixed into a case: $12.74
Seriously, this is a great value to be had at the price of mediocre supermarket plonk.
Price good while supplies last.