Le Barthas' 2020, Domaine Pierre Cros
Type: Red Wine
Country: France
Code: CROS175
A lieux-dit vineyard, the blend is 2/3 Syrah and 1/3 Mourvèdre. A wine of real character, produced from exceptionally poor soils that force the vines to work hard and penetrate deep underground.

Specification

Producer

Domaine Pierre Cros

Pierre Cros is a retired rugby player, a formidable man and a maverick winemaker. Based in Badens in Minervois, he has scant regard for the authorities, making wines that he wants to drink, even if the authorities don’t allow the growing of certain grapes such as Touriga Nacional and Nebbiolo. His 20 hectares of vines include the classic Southern French varieties of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah with some low yielding vines dating from 1905. “I neither pretend to teach you how you should taste my wines… nor when… or why… or (even worse) with whom. I would just like to outline certain reflexions and ideas, which in my opinion are important for today’s wine world. I would like to tell y...

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Tasting Notes

The palate is succulent and rich in raspberry fruit. A wet stone minerality, soft tannins and overtones of garrigue, provide a wonderful herb backdrop, whilst a hint of cinnamon lingers on the finish. “Entre la vigne et la mer, entre ma mère et mon père, entre Syrah and Mourvèdre, non pas les raisins de colère mais les raisins de l’amour.” (Between the vine and the sea, between my Mother and my Father, between Syrah and Mourvedre, not the grapes of anger but the grapes of love…..) – Pierre Cros.

Food Matches

Ideal as an aperitif, or as a fabulous accompaniment to grilled meat dishes.

Vinification

This is a very full and spicy red. 50% each Syrah and Mourvedre, the vines around 65 years old and planted on narrow terraces with a NE exposure. The vines are very low yielding, around 35 HL/Ha, and all hand picked. After sorting, the grapes are destemmed, and the grapes gently crushed in large oak vats, with twice daily pumpovers to aid a long and even extraction. Maturation is in a mix of oak vats and smaller oak, normally used barriques, for around 12 months. Bottled without filtration.
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