Les Cras

From the village part of the vineyard, with southerly exposure, this is quite a pale pink-purple colour, with a beautifully stylish nose; some minerality as well as Chambolle suavity. There is pretty red fruit, with lots of detail. The wine has good acidity, while the fruit comes bouncing back at the finish.

Patrice Rion compares 2014 to a mix of 1979 and 1989 for the aromatics and delighted to have been able to pick a more or less normal-sized crop. He began on 12th September with healthy grapes, reinforced by his system of two sorting tables, one before and one after de-stemming. The amount of new oak has been reduced here, now just 30 percent on most cuvées.

From the village part of the vineyard, this is a lovely, even, fresh mid-purple with a sensual, stylish, classical Chambolle nose. The wine is tightly knit on the palate with good acidity, but it is the fruit which really stands out. Very long and lovely. Drink 2021-2028.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

With more than 35 vintages under his belt, Patrice Rion considers that 2015 is the finest of his career, offering elegance, acidity and persistence. They began picking on 5th September and finished before the rain which arrived the following weekend. The only sorting that needed doing was to remove any dried-out berries. The yields were acceptable, just 10 percent down in volume on the previous vintage. Unusually, Patrice and his son Maxime have used some whole bunches on certain cuvées, notably the Clos des Argillières and Clos St Marc.

Patrice and son Maxime Rion are tweaking their techniques a little by reducing new oak and slightly increasing extraction in the pre-fermentation stage. The results are impressive; in 2011 the wines have come in naturally at around 12.5% alcohol and they show a true sense of balance.

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With glorious, rich fruit on the nose, this is flamboyant with just the right balance of new wood and a fresh finish. This is beautiful and full of energy in 2011.
Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director

Red Wine Of The Vintage
Ghislaine's very fine range of wines is on a roll and the 2008s are showing beautifully across the board. Les Cras stood out, with its dark fruits and elegant, yet taut, tannins which together promise so much for the future.
(Tom Cave Cellar Plan Manager)

Ghislaine’s Les Cras has a real density of fruit, despite being the most restrained wine in the cellar. With dark, crunchy fruit, fine tannins and a real length of flavour, this offers excellent long-term potential.
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Burgundy Buyer)

A gorgeous and beautifully elegant nose of pure essence of red pinot fruit and wet stone shades merges into detailed, reserved and mineral-tinged medium-bodied flavors that possess an abundance of underlying tension. There is fine balance to the long and linear finish and this is a classically styled Les Cras that should reward mid-term cellaring.
Burghound.com - Issue #49

A medium dense purple, this has a heavenly perfumed bouquet. With some bilberry and oak, it is nicely balanced. The oak is quite prominent at first on the palate but then the fruit takes over and fills the middle and back of the mouth. There is a touch of salinity to keep it fresh, while the fruit completely covers the bone structure. Drink 2023-2033.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Picking began here on 4th September and took five days in incredibly easy conditions. The thick skins on the grapes and the ease with which the colour emerged meant that it was important not to go chasing the tannins, according to Ghislaine, so she used pumping over rather than punching down. All bunches were de-stemmed as usual. The crop is, once again, slightly on the small side.