In the glass
Aroma: blackberry, violet, garrigue, graphite
Palate: dark fruit, mineral lift, fine tannin, long finish
Syrah-led cuvée on Crès terroir - round pebbles with neutral pH, excellent draining quality. Built for the cellar.
What it pairs with
-
Slow-braised lamb shoulder
Fine tannin and graphite meet slow-cooked lamb. -
Wild boar daube
Game finds depth in the wine's dark fruit and mineral lift. -
Aged Comté
Long finish complements mature Comté's crystals.
History
Les Crès comes from Occitan-named Crès soils - round pebbles with slightly acidic to neutral pH, offering excellent draining quality and weak fertility. The Syrah-dominant cuvée is built for ageing.
- 1998 — First vintage of Les Crès released
Facts
- Producer
- Borie La Vitarèle
- Grapes
- Syrah (75%), Grenache (20%), Mourvèdre (5%)
- Classification
- AOC Saint-Chinian
- Oak
- Aged in demi-muid (large French oak barrels)
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- €22-30 at retail
- Drinking window
- 4-12 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1998
- Biodynamic
- Biodynamic Practicing
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Les Crès
What does Les Crès taste like?
Blackberry, violet, garrigue and graphite on the nose; dark fruit, mineral lift, fine tannin and a long finish on the palate. Full-bodied with a long finish.
When should I drink Les Crès?
Drink between 4 and 12 years from vintage. Younger bottles benefit from 60-90 minutes of decanting.
What food pairs with Les Crès?
Slow-braised lamb shoulder is the canonical match; wild boar daube and aged Comté also work well.
Where is Les Crès made?
On the Crès terroir at Borie la Vitarèle - round pebble soils with weak fertility, ideal for Syrah's structure.