Cristia Côtes du Rhône Blanc

The Grangeon family farms in Courthézon in the Southern Rhône. In 2014 they launched Cristia Collection, a négociant line focused on wines from the Rhône Valley and Provence. The family brings to this line the same attention to fruit that built their reputation at the domaine. Their estate vineyards have been farmed organically and certified since the 2008 vintage, and their Côtes du Rhône wines are aged only in concrete for eight to twelve months. The blend draws on the classic white varieties of the south, led by Viognier and Grenache Blanc with Clairette and Roussanne. Viognier gives perfume, with apricot and honeysuckle. Grenache Blanc adds weight and a gentle roundness. Clairette and Roussanne bring a fresh, herbal edge and a firmer finish. Because there is no oak, the fruit stays bright and direct. 2023 in the Southern Rhône was hot and dry, with a fierce heatwave in late August, though it was not as hot as 2022. White wines were the more consistent success of the year, showing aromatic lift and bright acidity. In this wine, that means generous stone fruit held in shape by a clean, refreshing finish. It is a clear introduction to what Southern Rhône white grapes taste like.