Vineyards and winemaking
Les Creisses draws on the estate's varied soils around Valros: a stony clay-limestone plateau, Villafranchian gravel slopes and parcels bordered by woods and garrigue. This mosaic helps combine Mediterranean ripeness with freshness, savoury perfume and fine mineral detail.
The 2022 blends 30% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Grenache, 5% Carignan, 5% Mourvèdre and 5% Marselan. The hand-picked varieties were fully destemmed and vinified separately, followed by a 20-day maceration and 15 to 18 months of maturation in concrete vats and oak barrels.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Deep ruby-purple, bright at the rim and youthful in tone.
Nose
Blackberry, damson and blackcurrant meet violet, cracked pepper and warm garrigue. A subtle note of liquorice adds depth without diminishing the wine's aromatic freshness.
Palate
Dense but fluid, with dark berry fruit, supple tannins and well-judged acidity. Syrah spice and Grenache warmth are held by Cabernet structure, while herbs, liquorice and a stony note carry the long finish.
Food pairing
Try with slow-roast lamb shoulder and rosemary, merguez sausages with chickpeas, pork belly with fennel, or a roast pepper and black-olive tart. A short decant will help the youthful aromatics and texture open.
Background story
Domaine des Creisses is a family property at Valros, near Pézenas, with a winemaking history extending back through the nineteenth century. Philippe Chesnelong took responsibility for the estate in 1998 and works with his cousin Louis Mitjavile on vinification and maturation.
The estate follows a sustainable charter and holds Haute Valeur Environnementale certification, using winter cover crops and low-impact vineyard practices to encourage soil life. Les Creisses is its many-soiled, multi-varietal cuvée: less overtly monumental than Les Brunes, but especially expressive of the surrounding Mediterranean landscape.
