Domaine des Lises Crozes-Hermitage Rouge Vignes Franches 2023

Vignes Franches is a micro-cuvée from six rows of ungrafted Sérine, an old Syrah selection taken from Raymond Trollat's Saint-Joseph vines.

In 2008 Alain and Maxime Graillot took mass-selection cuttings from the recently retired Raymond Trollat, whose vineyards lie in Saint-Joseph's historic heartland at Saint-Jean-de-Muzols. Trollat identified these vines as Sérine, a selection believed to be an old 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, next to Maxime's core Crozes-Hermitage vineyard. As the name suggests, the vines are franc de pied — on their own roots, ungrafted. There are just six rows, and now that they are fruitful the wine is made in a single six-year-old Stockinger foudre. The grapes were mostly destemmed and the wine aged for as long as Maxime saw fit. With vine age, clone, terroir and yield all in play, he is not yet drawing conclusions, but sees a deeper mineral seam and very fine tannins.

Worth five to ten years in the cellar and rewarding now with air. Serve at 16 to 18°C with roast lamb, guinea fowl or grilled aubergine.

*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.