Tasted with Ben and Andrea Tissier in Hurigny, 12 November 2023.

Domaine des Crais
71570 Leynes
Tel: +33 6 11 82 29 42
www.domainedescrais.fr
Domaine Instagram

Domaine des Crais is a 6 hectare domaine in Leynes, producing Mâcon-Fuissé, Saint-Véran & Beaujolais-Leynes.

Ben Tissier was a Doctor who, together with his wife Andrea, decided to take on the family vines in 2019. Andrea is a nurse but they both work the vines. Ben is the 4th generation of the family at this domaine.

They have a large parcel in Leynes, some of which sits on blue granite close to Chateau des Rontets. They are now in their second year of biodynamics. Ben’s father, Jean Luc, sold some of his production through vignerons independent but there’s a decent amount of export too – “My father is really positive about the extra complexity and style of the wines we are currently making.”

Ben on his last two vintages:
“In 2023 I pruned a bit short so I don’t have the yield of many of my neighbours. For the 2022s, all the bottling has been done – it wasn’t a hyper-easy vintage but we are finding our way and I like what the vintage has produced – I prefer the tension of 21 but I’d rather have a year like 22!”

The wines…

Two delicious whites and two delicious reds – but the last of these reds – well, that’s a great one!

2022 St.Véran Les Crais
With 9 month elevage
That’s an inviting aromatic freshness. Large in the mouth – concentrated yet with the cool direction of plenty of minerality. Lovely finish – lovely wine.

2021(!) St.Véran Les Crais
15 months of elevage – ‘I wasn’t accustomed to such acidity so elongated the elevage’
A little more direct – I note a bit of barrel here that I didn’t see on the 22. Hmm – I love the extra energy here – a bit more direct – more tension – the barrel is still there in the flavours but less visible than the nose – wait two years it’s a super wine with a hint of extra finishing width with some lime complexity here.

Les Reds:

2022 Beaujolais-Leynes, Les Esservies ‘Gargantua’
A large-scale nose – that’s really inviting you sense a bit of oak spice but only that. In the mouth tons of scale – a big wine of energy and plenty of still slightly drying, tannin – but this has such energy – I can’t wait to taste it again in 2-3 years – really persistent in the finish.