Why it matters
The producer
Maxime Graillot founded Domaine des Lises in 2004. He is a son of Alain Graillot. The domaine makes red Crozes-Hermitage, with Équis as a named cuvée. Its work joins organic viticulture and hand harvests to punch-down fermentation with whole bunch retained for most cuvées.
Climate change raised the need to protect the ground between harvests. Maxime Graillot converted the previously conventionally farmed vineyards to organic viticulture, kept the soils constantly ploughed and banned herbicides. Cover crops now follow the harvest, keeping the soil covered through the next season. The farming combines deep ploughing in gravel with a deliberate use of living cover.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Crozes-Hermitage places Domaine des Lises in the Northern Rhône. The red wine carries the appellation name directly, while Équis pairs that appellation with a separate cuvée name. The range stays close to one red appellation, with the label distinguishing the broader Crozes-Hermitage wine from the named bottling.
The vineyards are worked in gravel soils. Constant ploughing allows roots to dig deep into the gravel, while herbicides are banned. Cover crops are sown immediately after harvest to keep the soil covered through the next season. Climate change has made ground cover more important, so the sowing follows harvest rather than waiting for the next growing season.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
All grapes are harvested by hand. Fermentation uses punch-downs exclusively, and around 30% whole bunch is kept for most cuvées. Whole bunch fermentation leaves stems with the fruit, which can bring perfume, spice and additional tannin. Punch-downs push the cap back into the fermenting wine, extracting colour and flavour while keeping the cellar work direct and controlled.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range centers on red Crozes-Hermitage and includes Équis as a named cuvée. Crozes-Hermitage Rouge is presented through the appellation name, while Équis carries a separate cuvée name within the same red wine category. Équis is associated with semi-carbonic maceration, a method that can give the wine a fuller, softer fruit texture.
Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2023 is very floral, with sweet black cherry, exotic character and subtle cured meat notes. The palate is fresh and vivid, with nice acidity.