DOMAINE DU CRES RICARD - DOMAINES PAUL MAS

An Exceptional Terroir

Founded in 1960 at the "Les Crès Ricards" location in the commune of Ceyras (32 km from the coast), the estate lies at the foot of Mont-Baudile, on the edge of the Larzac plateau and the Massif Central. The soils, enriched with alluvial pebbles from the Lergue River, the mineral diversity, and the well-draining nature of the land, even at depth, provide ideal conditions for growing vines. These conditions are comparable to those found in other prestigious southern French appellations. In 2010, Jean-Claude Mas acquired the original 27 hectares of Château and expanded it to 42 hectares in 2013. The clay-limestone soils, rich in rolled pebbles, red earth, and schist, offer the vines optimal nutritional and hydric conditions, allowing for slow maturation that leads to a perfect balance of structure and aroma.

Exemplary Expertise: The Art of Winemaking

The vineyard yields 40 hl per hectare, with a planting density of 5,200 vines per hectare. Manual harvesting allows for a grain-by-grain selection, and carbonic maceration results in generous wines. We produce the cuvées Oenothera, Stecia, and Alexaume from the varietals Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carignan, Cinsault, and Alicante, all farmed under certified Terra Vitis sustainable practices. The vines are pruned in Cordon de Royat and harvested both manually and mechanically. The wines are fermented and aged in small cement or stainless steel tanks, as well as French and American oak barrels.