Situated to the north west of Montpellier, the Terrasses du Larzac vineyards are heavily influenced by the cool air from the high Larzac plateau, symbolized by Mount Baudile which peaks at 850m (2800ft).
Story
Jean-Claude Mas has a flair for spotting the jewels among the most beautiful terroirs in the region. Long before the name Terrasses du Larzac became an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée in 2014, Jean-Claude Mas had sensed the potential of this terroir.
This winery was created in 1960, located at “Les Crès Ricards” in the town of Ceyras. In the heart of the delta formed between the Hérault river and the Lergue river, dominated in the distance by Mont Baudile and the Rocher des Vierges, the winery of Crès Ricards lives up to its name: in Occitan, “crès” designates a land where the rock is outcropping. This is indeed the case on this vast plateau of red earth strewn with rolled pebbles.
Les Terrasses du Larzac
Situated to the north west of Montpellier, the Terrasses du Larzac vineyards are heavily influenced by the cool air from the high Larzac plateau, symbolized by Mount Baudile which peaks at 850m (2800ft).
Geographically, it is pretty unique, with day/night temperature variations occasionally as wide as 20°C (68°F) in summer. This means the grapes mature slowly and steadily, resulting in the wines’ freshness and aromatic complexity.
The terroir
The well drained clay-limestone soils are composed of round pebbles, red soil and shale. Rich in micro-nutrients, the soils provide the vines with the best possible conditions for a slow ripening period, producing wines that have a wonderful balance both in structure and aroma. The vines are planted to a density of 5200 vines per hectare and yield 40 hl/ha.
The wines
The Domaine produces our Château Crès Ricards Oenothera, Stecia and Alexaume from Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carignan, Cinsault and Alicante vines which are sustainably grown and certified Terra Vitis. The Cordon de Royat pruning method is used. The wines are produced and aged in small cement or stainless steel vats and French and American oak barrels.
