Coming from 100% destemmed Grenache and the sandy soils of the Cristia lieu-dit, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is the clear winner in the lineup and a gorgeous wine that readers will love. Awesome notes of roasted garrigue, licorice, Provençal spice, and assorted red and black fruits all define the aromatics, and it's a deep, layered, full-bodied beauty revealing velvety tannins and a blockbuster finish. As with most 2022s, it’s already drinking brilliantly yet should evolve gracefully over the coming decade.

This is ripe for sure, but not overripe, and the oak is sensitively applied, giving some shape and focus to the wine. The alcohol is gently warming but not excessive in the realms of pure Châteauneuf Grenache, and it has remarkable length of fruit. A hedonistic treat. Aged in demi-muids and barriques, one third new oak, for 18 months.

Coming in at eye level with the Renaissance from the same vintage, the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is gorgeous. White pepper, strawberry jam, cedar, licorice, crushed violets and menthol are all front and center. Framed by ripe and seamlessly sculpted tannins as well as bright acidity, the ambitious 2022 impresses with great persistence on the complex finish. It spent 18 months in equal proportions of demi-muids and both old and new oak barriques. -- Nicolas Greinacher

A dense, generous and fruity red from old vines. It shows notes of dark cherries, baked plums, sweet spices and some grilled meat. It’s full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Structured yet elegant, with a delicious and succulent core of cherries and blood oranges on the palate. Lively and concise, with a focused and flavorful finish. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2025.

(93+ points) Crafted from old vines of Grenache Noir planted on sandy soils (Cristia's south and north lieux-dits), the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes from Domaine de Cristia exhales a more solar bouquet in comparison with the other cuvées, opening in the glass with notes of dark olive, tapenade, dry thyme, chocolate and baked dark berries. Sweet and medium to full-bodied with a broad attack, it's layered and textured with an enrobing structure and polished tannins. The sweetest of the lineup, it finishes long and perfumed with delicate notes of lavender and licorice. Matured for 18 months in large barrels (33%), new barrels (34%) and the rest in used barrels, this is a great success at this address. - Yohan Castaing