Marietta Cellars Christo 2022 - 750ml

94pts Wine Enthusiast

This little-known wine-growing region, South of Mendocino, has only one winery. They have been in operation since 1978. It is structured bottling of Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah, and a splash of Viognier as a nod to the Northern Rhône of France. Their region gets the warm days, but it has cooler temperatures later in the day, creating structured, high-toned, red wines driven with red fruits, savory herbs, and silky tannins with grit. Aerate and enjoy now, or you can cellar until 2030

Winemaker Notes

With a nose of black pepper ground over blacker berries, Luxardo cherries and licorice liqueur, this Rhône style red wine comes out punching with the biggest and gentlest of gloves. Texturally, the mouth fills with an upwelling of viscous, ripe, silky richness. Tart marzipan and fresh-cut sage peek through to keep all the pleasure grounded, bringing brightness and electricity to this delicious umami bomb. A study in the integration

Named and styled after Chris Bilbro, affectionately called “Christo” by his great-aunt Marietta, this Rhone varietal blend is gentle but powerful, pleasurable but deep, and refined while raw. An ode to Scot’s father and founder of Marietta Cellars, this blend is largely Syrah from the McDowell estate, blended with Petite Sirah from the Angeli Estate and Grenache from the Yorkville Highlands Estate. The pig snout on the label is a reminder of how Chris Bilbro made wild boar sausage and carted his creations around the country to share with chefs and wine lovers alike as he sold Marietta wines.Marietta’s family series is an ode to the elements that have unified the family’s winemakers over time: family, hard work, passion, and a love for the creative process that is winemaking.

Organic