# Domaine des Lises Crozes-Hermitage Rouge (2018)

- **Producer:** Domaine des Lises
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Syrah
- **Region:** Rhône, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €28
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, violet, black pepper, herbaceous, smoke, cedar, vanilla, leather, game, forest floor

## About this wine

Domaine des Lises is the personal estate of Maxime Graillot, son of the legendary Northern Rhône pioneer Alain Graillot. Established in 2003 in the village of Pont de l'Isère, the estate focuses on crafting elegant, terroir-driven Syrah from gravelly, well-drained soils. Labeled under 'Equis'—Maxime's boutique négociant project—this wine represents a modern, refined approach to Crozes-Hermitage, balancing the rustic charm of the appellation with pristine fruit purity and silky textures.

## Interesting facts

- Domaine des Lises was founded by Maxime Graillot, son of Alain Graillot, one of the most famous names in Crozes-Hermitage.
- Unlike his father's traditional whole-cluster method, Maxime destems 100% of the grapes to emphasize purity of fruit and softer tannins.
- The 'Equis' label on the bottle represents Maxime's high-quality micro-négociant project, ensuring meticulous sourcing and vinification.

## Food pairing

The vibrant acidity and structured tannins of Northern Rhône Syrah cut beautifully through rich, fatty meats like lamb and duck. The wine's natural black pepper and herbal notes harmonize with savory herbs like rosemary and thyme, while its dark fruit profile complements berry-based reductions.

## Wine making process

The grapes are hand-harvested from sustainably farmed vines. Unlike his father's famous whole-cluster fermentation style, Maxime destems 100% of the fruit for Domaine des Lises to achieve a softer, more fruit-forward profile. Fermentation takes place in concrete vats using native yeasts. The wine is then aged for 12 months in seasoned French oak barrels (mostly 1 to 3 years old) to preserve the vibrant fruit character without imparting heavy oak flavors, followed by bottling without heavy filtration.