Description
Badens is a sleepy Minervois village situated in the Minervois, in a vast amphitheatre lined by the Canal du Midi to the South and the Montagne Noire to the North, stretching from Carcassonne to Narbonne. It is here that little else except the vine and olive trees struggle to grow in the intense heat of the Southern sun, and the loudest sound is the gentle buzz of the bees in the summer.
Pierre Cros, a passionate ex-rugby player is, is a self-taught viticulteur/vigneron and self-styled Vigneron Militant, who regularly achieves marks in the high 90s in Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. He has won an unprecedented 10 Coups de Coeur in the prestigious Guide Hachette. It is here that he cultivates a 20-hectare vineyard with the classic Southern grape varieties of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah. His Carignan vines date back to 1905!
However, he is something of a maverick and a thorn in the side of the AOC authorities, as most unusually, he grows the non-permitted grape varieties of Nebiolo (Italy), Touriga Nacional (Portugal) and Pinot Noir (Burgundy). The label of these wines, which by law can only be labelled as a Vin de Table without mentioning the all important grape variety, encapsulates his philosophy.
We usually visit Pierre most years in the Spring, to taste our way through his extensive and impressive range of wines, but more often than not we discover that he has sold out of the wines we want to buy. Not so this year, and we’re delighted to be able to offer you two superb special cuvées.
A Mixed 6-bottle Case contains 3 bottles of each of:
Domaine Cros Minervois Les Barthas 2020
AC Minervois
This is made from old vines of 2/3 Syrah and 1/3 Mourvèdre, handpicked and fermented in tanks with no oak-ageing.
It is deep in colour, with a beautiful perfumed nose with hints of tomato leaf, vanilla and cassis. On the palate there is an explosion of ripe cassis and blackberry fruit with a silky mouthfeel and a savoury finish from the Mourvèdre. Gorgeous now but will keep for another 10 years.
Domaine Cros Les Rocs 2020
Vin de France
This stunning wine is a fascinating blend of Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo and Touriga Nacional with Grenache, which is why this wine is a Vin de France and not a Minervois appellation.
It is paler in colour but nevertheless bursting with flavour. There is fabulous nose of violets and red fruits, which leads into a mouthful of red cherry, redcurrant and strawberry fruit. The tannins are soft and light and there is great length.
An extremely elegant wine, almost like a blend of Burgundy and Barolo!
