Wines by Region / Languedoc-Roussillon / Domaine La Croix Sainte-Eulalie

Domaine La Croix Sainte-Eulalie - Languedoc Roussillon

Pierrerue, l'Heurault
The La Croix Sainte-Eulalie estate sits at the foot of the Haut Languedoc national park, in the heart of Saint-Chinian, an area with an incredible diversity of soils and a captivating authenticity based on tradition. The domaine in its current incarnation was created and has been run since 1971 by a family of wine enthusiasts, Michel and Aline Gleizes, who were joined in 2000 by their daughter Agnès (who happens to be married to our Chablis producer, Cyril Gautheron).

Specifically located in the hamlet of Combejean in Pierrerue (department of l'Herault) the domaine's 31 hectares of vines are divided into two sectors by the course of Vernazobre river. In the north shale and sandstone soils dominate, with characteristic soft, fruity, generous wines, and in the south the clay-limestone soils tend to produce more powerful and perhaps more typically "Languedoc" wines.

In these vineyards they have planted mainly Syrah, Grenache Noir and Mourvèdre for the red wines, and Viognier and Vermentino for the whites. But they also have a variety of other grape varietals--9 in total. This diversity of soils and varieties allows the domaine a tremendous flexibility in choosing the blends each year in order to best reflect the unique character of the appellation.

Continuing the traditions of the area, the vineyards are worked sustainably, with the utmost respect for nature and the terroir that they feel fortunate to have. Natural products are used whenever possible and grass is grown between the rows. Harvests are 100% by hand, and the classic vinification methods of the AOP are respected: all but one of the white wines are vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks and cement vats, and the grapes for the reds are 100% destemmed, while the Carignan in their blends often undergoes carbonic maceration. The reds are unoaked as well.

Domaine La Croix Sainte-Eulalie Saint-Chinian "Tradition"
The Tradition cuvée is a roughly equal blend of 4 grape varieties grown on sandstone and decomposed granite: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan. The first three are totally de-stemmed and vinified in stainless steel tanks and cement vats. The Carignan is vinified using carbonic maceration to enhance its aromatic expression. No oak is used in the aging. The delightfully low alcohol clocks in around 12.5%. The wine is a garnet-red color and the aromas and flavors are all gorgeous red fruits and spices. It is an outstanding value, an easy-drinking, pleasurable wine that can just as easily accompany a salad as it can a summer barbecue.