Pinot Noir Languedoc 2023

PRODUCER
Recognised as one of the top estates in Picpoul, Domaine La Croix
Gratiot is managed by Anaïs Ricome with help from her father,
Yves, who began bottling his own wine at La Croix Gratiot in 2005.
Before taking over the family estate, Anais spent some time
working in New Zealand with Matt Thomson (co-owner of Blank
Canvas) which influenced her decision to make pure, site-specific
wines that reflect the potential of Picpoul’s local varieties. In
recent years, Anaïs has driven a transition to biodynamic farming
across the 35-hectare estate and gained organic certification
from the 2021 vintage. Her work and vision have resulted in the
recognition of La Croix Gratiot as ‘the pinnacle of Picpoul de
Pinet’ by the French publication La Revue du Vin de France.

VINEYARDS
The Domaine La Croix Gratiot vineyards for are situated near the
village of Montagnac, just 10 minutes away from the
Mediterranean coast. The vines are planted on loamy-limestone
soils and are surrounded by garrigue scrubland. The proximity of
the vineyards to the sea means cool maritime breezes moderate
the climate, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and retain good
levels of acidity, resulting in fresh and vibrant wines.

VINTAGE
The 2023 vintage in Languedoc began favourably with dry
conditions, average winter temperatures, and no frost damage.
Spring rains built crucial water reserves before the hot summer,
though drought conditions persisted. August delivered an intense
heatwave with temperatures soaring to 43°C and nighttime lows
remaining above 30°C, accelerating grape maturity and reducing
yields. Despite these extreme conditions, the vintage produced
healthy grapes of good quality, demonstrating the region's
resilience under challenging climatic pressures.

VINIFICATION
Grapes were hand picked and sorted meticulously at the winery
prior to crushing. Fermentation lasted roughly three weeks, during
which twice daily punch downs were carried out to ensure the
optimum extraction of colour and tannins. The wine was then
aged in oak barrels for one year before bottling.

TASTING NOTES
This wine is a vibrant ruby in the glass, with an elegant aromatic
nose displaying notes of red cherries, plum, and a hint of dried
rosemary. The palate has fine, silky tannins and finishes with
lingering juicy finish.