Domaine La Croix Gratiot Les Zazous Pinot Noir 2024
£18.95
The wine
Vibrant ruby, with an elegant nose of red cherries, plum and a hint of dried rose.
Pinot Noir in the Languedoc is unusual and only works on cooler, higher sites, which is why it is bottled as IGP rather than under an appellation: the local rules make no provision for a Burgundian grape this far south. Les Zazous were the sharp-dressed, jazz-loving youth of wartime Paris, who dressed deliberately against the mood of the occupation. Domaine La Croix Gratiot is run by Anais Ricome near Montagnac in the Languedoc, a few minutes from the Étang de Thau.
The producer
Domaine La Croix Gratiot
View all Domaine La Croix Gratiot winesIn the sun-drenched Hérault, close to the Mediterranean lagoon of Thau, Domaine La Croix Gratiot farms a diverse patchwork of Languedoc terroirs. This is a family estate with a modern, thoughtful outlook. Its heart lies in the celebrated Picpoul de Pinet.
The vineyards spread across limestone, clay, and sandstone, each lending its own voice. Farming is careful and increasingly sustainable, and the winemaking is fresh and precise. The aim is character and drinkability in equal measure.
The range is refreshingly varied. Crisp, saline Picpoul sits beside aromatic Hérault whites, juicy Syrah, and even a rare southern Pinot Noir. Every bottle offers honest character at a welcoming price.
To open a La Croix Gratiot wine is to taste the sunny, generous side of the Languedoc. Bright, characterful, and endlessly versatile, these are wines made for sharing.
