Type: Red Wine
Grape Varieties: 70% Syrah | 30% Grenache | 13.5%
Region: Corbières AOC, Longuedoc, France
ABV: 13.5%
Volume: 750ml
Tasting Notes
Palm: Medium to full-bodied, abundant fruit flavors, lively acidity
Middle: Mature and fine tannins, well-structured, the peppery spiciness of Syrah blends perfectly with the sweet fruitiness of Grenache
Finish: Medium to long, finishing with black fruit and mineral notes, with subtle spice notes on the aftertaste
Decanting: Recommended decanting time is 30-60 minutes. Younger vintages can benefit from longer decanting times to allow the aromas to fully develop.
Food Pairing Suggestions
Red Meats: Grilled steak, lamb chops, beef stew, braised pork belly
Game: Roasted venison, wild boar
Cheese: Aged cheddar, blue cheese
Chinese Cuisine: Braised dishes, grilled dishes
The Soul of the Estate & Its Terroir | Domaine du Grand Crès, nestled in the heart of the Corbières appellation in Languedoc, southern France, is a family-owned boutique winery dedicated to expressing the purity of its terroir. The name "Grand Crès," meaning "Great Chalk," directly reveals the core of its terroir—a unique blend of limestone clay and marine fossil soils. This soil imparts a minerality and a fresh structure to the wines. Adhering to sustainable viticultural principles, the owners minimize human intervention, allowing the vineyards, situated in a Mediterranean climate and buffeted by the Mistral winds, to naturally produce pure and vibrant fruit.
The Winemaking Philosophy of "Crescendo," the winery's flagship wine, is inspired by musical terms, symbolizing the wine's power and complexity as it unfolds on the palate, like a musical movement gradually reaching its climax. This wine is made from grapes harvested by hand from the estate's oldest vines (over 40 years old), undergoing rigorous selection. During vinification, fermentation is initiated naturally with native yeasts, followed by approximately 12 months of aging in French oak barrels (30% of which are new). The entire process aims to meticulously extract flavors while preserving a wonderful freshness and the authenticity of the terroir.
Hervé Lefer, hailed as a "super elite in viticulture," graduated from the prestigious University of Montpellier, France's top agricultural science institution. After working as a researcher at the French National Institute of Origin and Designation of Origin (INAO), he became the head of viticulture at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC).
After several years as manager and head of viticulture at DRC, Lefer conceived the dream of owning his own winery. During his studies at the University of Montpellier, he realized the immense potential of the terroir in southern France. He miraculously discovered vineyards with "clay-calcareous soil"—a limestone-rich soil capable of producing elegant wines similar to those of Burgundy. He then moved with his wife, Pascal, and their three children to the village of Lagrès in the AOP Corbières region of southern France.
This "wonderful encounter with terroir" led to the founding of Domaine du Grand Cress in 1989.
