Domaine des Lises Crozes-Hermitage Rouge Vignes Franches 2021

Domaine des Lises Crozes-Hermitage Vignes Franches comes from six rows of ungrafted Sérine, an old northern Rhône selection of Syrah, planted on their own roots.

In 2008 Alain and Maxime Graillot took massal cuttings from Raymond Trollat, the recently retired grower whose vines lay in Saint-Joseph's heartland at Saint-Jean-de-Muzols. Trollat identified them as Sérine, a type of Syrah largely displaced from the northern Rhône once more productive, disease-resistant clones became available. The Graillots planted the cuttings on 0.2 hectares of sandy soil at Beaumont-Monteux, near Maxime's main vineyard; franc de pied, or vignes franches, means the vines carry no rootstock. Production runs to a single six-year-old Stockinger foudre. The grapes are mostly destemmed and the wine is aged for as long as Maxime judges necessary, with no commercial pressure on the timing. Graillot is not yet drawing firm conclusions on how it differs from his standard Crozes, though he notes a deeper mineral seam and very fine tannins.

Drinking now and likely to hold eight to ten years. Serve at 16-18°C with grilled lamb, peppered steak or a beef and olive daube.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.