Pierre Cros settled on 25 ha of vineyards and as much olives, almond trees and truffle oaks. He is a great “winzer-artist”, a real benchmark in the Minervois, if you look look up how often we wrote about him and his wines in this guide during the last 10 years. He considers himself as a “peasant” and tells us that he learned to respect his clients from his father and grand-father, who both of them had been bakers in Badens. Besides classic grape varieties of the AOC, Pierre Cros keeps ancient, almost forgotten and even “non-beloved” (mal aimé) grape varieties (as for example the Aramon) and introduced new varieties from abroad.

The wine star of the estate shines again. This Syrah pampered and raised in barrels for one year like the previous vintages, shows its typical intense and warm scents of spices and black fruits, enhanced with notes of cedar and a touch of truffles. Roasted cocoa and mocha join in on the concentrated and mellow palate, while mild and spicy tannins emphasize an intense final, a true apotheosis. A bottle that will be perfect to appreciate young (served in a carafe), or left for years of ageing. (2016 - 2025)

What to say about Carignan, except that I love this grape? You wonder why?

SHORT ANSWER : Go to a Carignan tasting and you will know!

INTERMEDIATE ANSWER : It has character, nerve, fruit and spices. Its tannins are fresh and have much relief. The vines may live for more than a hundred years. It’s a restart level fighter: (some) people did not want to keep it any longer, and therefore many of them ripped it out.… but its still there! It comes in three colors, black, gray and white, like many great varieties, giving pleasant wines, wines for our table and fine meals, and wines to be kept for ages.

DETAILED ANSWER : For the first time I met this wine in my glass during the late 90s and I started working with it in the Languedoc, specifically in the Minervois, in 2002. For those who do not remember: During harvest in September 2002 itwas raining, and a lot. There was much damage done to the vineyards, and I remember a plot of old Carignan that had been flooded. The plot was (and still is) in a spot called « Les Aspres“which usually refers to the stony and dry soil. Here the vines are rooted only in about 50 cm of topsoil, before encountering a rock slab. The latter indeed that caused the inundation because ther w. Nobody believed in the 2002 vintage and it is true that many grapes were affected by rot and some of the wines seemed a bit”diluted". But I still have the wine from this century old Carignan in my cellar. It’s now almost 13 years old, still tasting great !

Lets have a look at the same vineyard in 2003, a heatwave year. Again it was him who came out best, along with its old regional colleagues (Terret, Alicante, Cinsault, Picpoul ...). That’s interesting, right? Yet there still are people today, even experts, making a difference between these traditional grape varieties and « improving» grape varieties. Those mostly come from other wine regions, without being necessarily suited to the sometimes extreme climate conditions of Mediterranean vineyards.

This brings us to some very simple basics of viticulture and wine making: each variety needs is a suitable soil and a suitable climate, thoughtful cropping, proper care, as well as vinification and aging that outlines its qualities. Then EVERY grape variety will give us some good wine…

Being an integral part of the emblematic winemakers of the Languedoc for many years, Pierre Cros belongs to those who express best the character and diversity of the Languedoc through his beautiful wines. The winery is a true reference of the Minervois, led by a imaginative winemaker.

Wines of great precision
Six times elected “Coup de cœur du Guide Hachette” in the past 12 years, the Cuvée “Les Aspres” perfectly reflects the high quality standards of the Domaine and the wines. Wines that are frequently referred to by the tasters as true works of art.
"Blackcurrant, blackberry, vanilla, pepper and cinnamon. Soft, full-bodied, even sensual on the palate, this wine brings apotheosis as a seemingly endless finish. »

Well deserved eulogies that may also be applied to the Cuvée Vieilles Vignes (100% Carignan), the Mal Aimes, a table wine, made from old grape varieties (Carignan, Aramon, Picpoul Noir, Alicante), as well as to the very original wines under the label “La Liberté” (a Nebbiolo, a Touriga Nacional and a Pinot noir). All of them wines that bear witness to an accurate knowledge of the terroir.

While Pierre Cros neither claims to be the successor of generations of star winemakers, nor to belong to any « agricultural religion », he nevertheless claims to understand a little of the value of cultural legacy of our ancestors, and that he farms with respect and love.

Extract from “Les domaines coup de cœur du Guide Hachette des Vins”

A slightly blurred colour of garnet red with a brownish tint at the rim of the glass...It looks like a precious rarity found at antiques shop. An intense fresh nose, showing aromas of cherries, prunes and raspberries and furtheron developing fragrances of marzipan, dried blossoms and undergrowth. In addition several mushrooms, a trifle of pepper and the scent of old books, similar to vanilla. That´s a lot, II must confess, but its an impressive wine.
On the palate: Mellow and well structured thanks to pleasant silky tannins. Fresh, straight, sensual, full-bodied, again with cherries, spices and chocolate.

A wine inviting you to spend a rainy evening, comfortably in an club chair, burying oneself in the adventures by SHERLOCK HOLMES.

Nobody really knows the secret of old vines, but the legends (sometimes urban) are many. It appears for example, they make better wines than the young ones, nevertheles, no one can really prove it. Whatsoever, winemaking is a complex process, just the age of the vines is not sufficient to “do good.”

Fortunately Bacchus happened to meet several key factors: very old vines (CENTENARIANS), a great variety (CARIGNAN), a Mediterranean vintage (2009), a passionate and experienced winemaker (PIERRE).

Garnet red with plenty of light and fire, a powerful nose of gingerbread, figs and prunes with a hint of cherry and brandy. Yes, I dare say the word “brandy” and I know what you’re thinking: there is alcohol... And yes, it is a warm and generous wine, a Mediterranean wine made in a Mediterranean vintage, but it all perfectly fits! Soft palate, even velvety, silky tannins, the whole thing carried by a good background of freshness. It is long in the mouth, even very long, generous and spicy. Although already 5 years old, it can still be kept in the cellar, as the tannins and the flavours promise great potential for development.

HERBIVORE SUPPORT : A pumpkin pie with sesame seeds and some sweet yellow onions to enhance softness would be good for this wine. You may also add TURMERIC, CORIANDER seeds and CARAWAY to face the wines spiciness. I suggest to put some RACLETTE cheese on top, whose taste is more pronounced than GRUYÈRE cheese.

CARNIVORE SUPPORT : A RIBEYE STEAK, a BBQ, some salt and pepper... et voila! I also encourage the choice of EGGPLANT LASAGNE with LAMB MEAT or hot and spicy SQUID.

Only just poured, and already he gets cocky on the glasses edge. It seduces with a lush perfume, as impressive as its dark colour: blackberries and raspberries, some smoke and bay leaves, roasted hazelnuts and cinnamon ...

I’m really impressed by the character of this Portuguese grape variety that has taken root in the rocky soil of the Minervois. Fresh on the palate, with just as much flavour as odour and a hint of mint that makes the whole thing a little weightless… Its generous and creamy with very long aftertaste. I also find the scent trail of raspberry leaves, sweet and tart at the same time (in my youth I fermented raspberry leaves to make tea from it).

You won’t drink this wine without paying attention. Just sit down and forget about time…

Pierre Cros settled on 25 ha of vineyards and as much olives, almond trees and truffle oaks. He is a great “winzer-artist”, a real benchmark in the Minervois, if you look look up how often we wrote about him and his wines in this guide during the last 10 years. He considers himself as a “peasant” and tells usthat he learned to respect his clients from his father and grand-father,who both of them had been bakers in Badens. Besides classic grape varieties of the AOC, Pierre Cros keeps ancient, almost forgotten and even “non-beloved” (mal aimé) grape varieties (as for example the Aramon) and introduced new varieties from abroad.

The mythic cuvee of the winery (Les Aspres) stands atop the podium once again. Similar to previous vintages, the 2011 unifies intense, warm fragrances of ripe fruit, spices, cedar wood and eucalyptus. Toasty aromas and cocoa join the full-bodied, smooth and concentrated taste on the palate, underlined by elegant but tight tannins and delicate spices that lead the wine to an intense final. A true apotheosis!

Three stars also for the Vielles Vignes 2012: A centennial Carignan that spend a short time in oak barrels. Sweet spices, concentrated fruit, fine and supple.

Despite the school reform grimly looking down on France, Pierre Cros doesn’t not seem to have changed a single thing in his Minvervois Tradition 2013. Luckily for us!

Still made from the five traditional Mediterranean Grape varieties – Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre, the wine is as interesting and friendly as before. Lightly coloured but with a powerful bouquet, it exhales charming and promising aromas: Blackcurrant, raspberries and herbs intermingle with the sweet smell of confectionary and a surprising Potpourri of citrus fruit and flowers. Smooth, polite but not without character, this wine loves spicy Tapas and simple but tasty food, as well as inspiring discussions with friends all night long…