Domaine du Poujol
Domaine
de Poujol was bought by the Cripps family in 1994—Robert and Kim, and Robert’s
retired parents, Dick and Ann. Robert is English, Kim is American, and they
farm in what was the most unlikely of places to find foreign winegrowers at the
time. They came to this part of the Languedoc as the first non-French owners of
a domaine, and they quickly distinguished themselves by their experience and
strong pioneer spirit. Robert had been in the wine trade in Oxford for several
years, eventually going on to make wine at some prestigious wineries in
California. Kim had worked for ten years in Napa in financial management.
Together, they had a dream of making their own wine in France. After a year of
investigating, they found Domaine de Poujol, a unique little corner of
paradise where the warm Mediterranean air is quickly cooled down by the cool,
southeastern breezes descending from the Cevennes (one of the great mountain
ranges of the Midi). Here the vineyards enjoy southern sun exposure on slopes
and terraces overlooking the river Mosson.
After buying the property, Kim and Robert
discovered that their eighteen hectares of vineyards sit
just outside of the Pic St. Loup appellation, and consequently had to take
the Coteaux du Languedoc and Vin de Pays de l’Hérault designations. Initially,
this was a great disappointment to them, because they believed their wines
merited the status of a Languedoc cru.
In spite of these constraints, the Cripps showcase the power of their own terroir with great success. Their secret is in the soil,
which is predominantly limestone, with a high concentration of magnesium.
According to the Cripps, this is what gives their wine its freshness. Their
hard work and persistence have allowed
them to discover their own distinct sense of place, offering wines with deep
aromas of bright red berries, garrigue,
and forest floor. After fifteen years of farming these beautiful vineyards, the
Cripps have realized the potential of their terroir to make the freshest, brightest
wines you’ll find in this hot, southern climate. Thomas Jefferson, who had a
pretty good palate, singled out Poujol as one of the great vineyard sites when
he went tasting around Montpellier!
Domaine de Poujol was bought by the Cripps family in 1994—Robert and Kim, and Robert’s retired parents, Dick and Ann. Robert is English, Kim is American, and they farm in what was the most unlikely of places to find foreign winegrowers at the time. They came to this part of the Languedoc as the first non-French owners of a domaine, and they quickly distinguished themselves by their experience and strong pioneer spirit. Robert had been in the wine trade in Oxford for several years, eventually going on to make wine at some prestigious wineries in California. Kim had worked for ten years in Napa in financial management. Together, they had a dream of making their own wine in France. After a year of investigating, they found Domaine de Poujol, a unique little corner of paradise where the warm Mediterranean air is quickly cooled down by the cool, southeastern breezes descending from the Cevennes (one of the great mountain ranges of the Midi). Here the vineyards enjoy southern sun exposure on slopes and terraces overlooking the river Mosson.
After buying the property, Kim and Robert discovered that their eighteen hectares of vineyards sit just outside of the Pic St. Loup appellation, and consequently had to take the Coteaux du Languedoc and Vin de Pays de l’Hérault designations. Initially, this was a great disappointment to them, because they believed their wines merited the status of a Languedoc cru. In spite of these constraints, the Cripps showcase the power of their own terroir with great success. Their secret is in the soil, which is predominantly limestone, with a high concentration of magnesium. According to the Cripps, this is what gives their wine its freshness. Their hard work and persistence have allowed them to discover their own distinct sense of place, offering wines with deep aromas of bright red berries, garrigue, and forest floor. After fifteen years of farming these beautiful vineyards, the Cripps have realized the potential of their terroir to make the freshest, brightest wines you’ll find in this hot, southern climate. Thomas Jefferson, who had a pretty good palate, singled out Poujol as one of the great vineyard sites when he went tasting around Montpellier!
Technical Information
Wine | Blend | Vine Age | Soil Type | Vineyard Area* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vin de Pays de l’Hérault Blanc “Pico” |
70% Vermentino, 20% Carignan Blanc, 10% Roussanne | 25 to 50 years | Limestone | 2 ha |
Languedoc Rosé |
32% Cinsault, 32% Carignan, 23% Mourvèdre, 13% Grenache | 10 to 30 years | Limestone | 4 ha |
Languedoc Rouge “Jazz” |
35% Grenache, 25% Carignan, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre/Cinsault | Grenache planted in 2007, Mourvèdre in 2001, Carignan in 1981, Cinsault in 1981 and 1974 | Limestone | 3 ha |
Languedoc Rouge “Podio Alto” |
40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault | 10 to 35 years | Limestone | 6 ha |
* "ha" = hectares; one hectare equals roughly two and a half acres |
VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION
As of 2007, all wines designated as A.O.C. Coteaux du Languedoc have been changed to a new appellation, A.O.C. Languedoc. Growers have a period of time in which they must comply. Future vintages will thus read as A.O.C. Languedoc.
• The Cripps farm in lutte-raisonnée, incorporating some biodynamic vineyard practices since 1998
Vin de Pays de l’Hérault Blanc “Pico” :
• Grapes are pressed and undergo a temperature-controlled fermentation
Languedoc Rosé:
• Certain parcels of red grapes are grown specifically for the rosé production
• Direct press and temperature-controlled fermentation
Languedoc Rouge “Podio Alto” :
• Grapes are 100% de-stemmed
•
Grapes are all harvested by hand
• Wine is vinified in open top vats with wild yeasts
• Fermentation lasts 2 to 3 weeks
• Wine is racked to 5-7 years old barrels (400, 500, 600-L) and aged for 1 year before bottling
• Wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered
Languedoc Rouge “Jazz”:
• Carignan and Cinsault are harvested early and fermented together
• Grenache and Mourvèdre are harvested at optimal ripeness and fermented separately
• Immediately after primary fermentation, wine is blended together in concrete tanks
• Very little sulfur is used in the fermentation process
General Information
- Country
- France
- Region
- Languedoc-Roussillon
- Appellation(s)
- Vin de Pays de l’Hérault, A.O.C. Languedoc
- Producer
- Robert & Kim Cripps
- Founded
- 1994
- Annual Production
- 4,100 cases
- Farming
- Lutte Raisonnée
- Website
- http://www.domainedupoujol.com