The third cuvee of Chateauneuf du Pape is Kristial. All of this offering emerges from the northeastern lieux-dit called Cristia, hence the name. The 2000 is a surprisingly elegant, deep purple-colored Chateauneuf that could pass for an intense Burgundy. The most feminine of Lesec's Chateauneuf du Papes, it offers sweet, Volnay-like plum and black cherry fruit intertwined with flower and mineral characteristics. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and restrained by the standards of these boisterous offerings, it should drink well for 12-15 years. Sadly, there are only 5,000 bottles of the 2000 (95% Grenache aged completely in old wood barrels). A Patrick Lesec Selection, various American importers, including Stacole Fine Wines, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 998-0029, Classic Wines, Boston, MA; tel. (617) 469-5799, Fine Vines LLC, Maywood, IL; tel. (708) 343-5901, and Associated Wine Distributors, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-8048