About This Vineyard
The small domain of La Terrasse d’Elise was started in 1998 by Xavier Braujou. His organic vines are cared for as naturally as possible, with minimum treatments in the vineyards, and with no fining, natural yeasts, and very little sulphur used in the winemaking process. Although 85% of Xavier’s land is within the Appellation, all his wines are labelled as Vin de Pays, to allow him more room to express the character of each varietal.
He is one of the last vignerons to graft his own vines in the vineyard, allowing him to choose the vine stocks from within his own domain, with no clonal vines. The cuvée Mas de Blanc is from 100% Merlot, aged for 12 months in barrels, with small yields at around 25 hectolitres per hectare. This is a rich, minty ripe peppery organic wine which would shame many Bordeaux. The cuvée ‘Le Pradel’ is from 100% Cinsault, aged 12 months in barrels, with low yields of around 25 hectolitres per hectare. Peppery slightly ‘jammy’ fruit nose and palate, prunes, figs, and ‘red fruits’, unusual and very individual in style. During a blind-tasting by Antoine Petrus, the sommelier of the Hotel Crillon in Paris, his cuvée « Elise » 2003 outclassed the famous La Grange des Pères 2003!