Marietta Cellars Christo 2019 – 750ml Breakthru

96pts Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah and Viognier, the 2019 Christo has a deep ruby-purple color and alluring scents of blueberry jam and cassis with accents of loamy earth, violet, coffee beans and iron. The full-bodied palate is powerful yet silky, with seamless acidity and gobs of pure violet perfume on the long, layered finish. It’s easy to drink now but offers a decade or more of cellaring potential.

93pts James Suckling

Aromas of green olive, black cherries, blackberries and oolong. Full-bodied with lovely fine, slightly tight tannins. Focused and driven with sturdy depth and length. Meaty with graphite undertones. 65% syrah, 22% grenache, 10% petite sirah and 3% viognier.

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