"Les Brunes" IGP Pays de l’Hérault 2020

The top top wine from Domaine Les Creisses, and a worthy contender to Mas de Daumas Gassac

Vineyards

The vineyards of Les Brunes are planted in dark, volcanic basalt soils near Pézenas in the Hérault region. Benefiting from a Mediterranean climate, the combination of warm days, cool nights, and the unique volcanic terroir provides both structure and freshness to the wine, allowing it to balance power with finesse.

Winemaking

This wine is crafted from a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah. Hand-harvested grapes undergo controlled-temperature fermentation to preserve the vibrancy of the fruit. The wine is aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels, adding layers of spice and toast while ensuring the natural fruit and mineral characteristics shine through. The harmonious integration of oak influence with fruit and volcanic complexity is a hallmark of this cuvée.

Appearance

A deep garnet core with ruby reflections, indicating both concentration and age potential.

Nose

The aromatic profile is layered, offering ripe blackcurrants and plums alongside balsamic, cocoa, and earthy notes. The oak ageing contributes nuances of vanilla, spice, and a touch of smokiness, enhancing the complexity.

Palate

Full-bodied and structured, with smooth tannins and flavours of ripe black fruit. Spicy undertones from the new oak are balanced by the wine’s vibrant acidity and distinct mineral edge from the volcanic soils. The finish is long and lingering, showcasing hints of dark chocolate, liquorice, and a slight smokiness, revealing remarkable harmony between the fruit and oak influence.

Food pairing

This wine pairs beautifully with roasted game, braised meats, and slow-cooked stews. Its complex structure and earthiness also make it an ideal companion for mature cheeses and rich, savoury dishes.

Background story

Domaine des Creisses, located in Valros, Languedoc, is a true gem producing limited quantities of exceptional red wines. Situated halfway between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains, just 25 minutes from the Mediterranean shores and a few kilometres west of Languedoc’s historic capital, Pézenas, the estate benefits from an ideal Mediterranean climate.

The family property, established in the 19th century, had made wine in its own cellar by many generations for over 110 years. In 1998, it was bought by Philippe Chesnelong, a lawyer by training. Since then, the estate has garnered admiration from sommeliers across France, where most of the wine is sold. Philippe is ably assisted in vinification and maturation by his cousin Louis Mitjavile (Domaine de l'Aurage), son of the legendary winemaker François Mitjavile of Tetre Rotebeouf fame.

Operating under a sustainable charter, the property recently achieved High Environmental Value (HVE) certification and employs organic principles. It spans two distinct vineyards. Les Creisses, the original 11-hectare vineyard, consists of a stony-clay limestone plateau with deep soils, now expanded by a further 20 hectares which includes slopes of Villafranchian gravel as part of a single plot interspersed with woods and garrigue. Les Brunes is aptly named after its dark brown basaltic soils formed on an ancient volcanic lava flow where the Cabernet Sauvignon element of the cuvée comes from.

The originality of Domaine des Creisses lies in its unique terroir: white and red quartz pebbles, fragments of schist, deep and outcropping limestone, and basalt lava rock, interpreted by a vinous poet and alchemist.