Domaine La Croix Gratiot Les Zazous Pinot Noir IGP Pays d'Herault 2024

Domaine La Croix Gratiot Les Zazous Pinot Noir IGP Pays d'Herault

Region: Languedoc, France

Vintage: 2024

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Pinot Noir

ABV: 13%

This wine is a vibrant ruby in the glass, with an elegant aromatic nose displaying notes of red cherries, plum, and a hint of dried rosemary. The palate has fine, silky tannins and finishes with lingering juicy finish.

The Domaine La Croix Gratiot vineyards for are situated near the village of Montagnac, just 10 minutes away from the Mediterranean coast. The vines are planted on loamy-limestone soils and are surrounded by garrigue scrubland. The proximity of the vineyards to the sea means cool maritime breezes moderate the climate, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and retain good levels of acidity, resulting in fresh and vibrant wines.

Grapes were hand picked and sorted meticulously at the winery prior to crushing. Fermentation lasted roughly three weeks, during which twice daily punch downs were carried out to ensure the optimum extraction of colour and tannins. The wine was then aged in oak barrels for one year before bottling.

For over 30 years Domaine La Croix Gratiot, which comprises 35 hectares in Montagnac, has been owned by brothers Yves and Hugues Ricome. After years of selling to their local co-operative, Yves started bottling his own wine in 2005 and bought his brother’s share of the domaine in 2009. His daughter Anaïs, who worked in New Zealand with Matt Thomson (co-owner of Blank Canvas), has since taken over managing the estate. Anaïs has driven a transition to biodynamic farming and gained organic certification from the 2021 vintage. She makes wonderfully pure, unoaked wines reflecting the potential of the local varieties. Her work and vision have resulted in the recognition of La Croix Gratiot as ‘the pinnacle of Picpoul de Pinet’ by French publication la Revue du vin de France.

https://croix-gratiot.com