Pic Saint Loup 2021

This wine shows remarkable breed for this appellation. Intense red fruit flavors and spice in the nose are backed up by ripe, smooth tannins in a very juicy wine. With a little imagination, it is easy to pick up aromas of the wild herbs and pine trees which encircle this secluded vineyard at the foot of the Hortus mountain. It would easily show well next to some of the more famous, and far more expensive wines, from the Rhône valley.

The vineyards are made up of a patchwork of small parcels over many expositions and variations of soil, each paired with an appropriate varietal. In general, cooler climate varietals such as Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are planted on North-facing slopes. Conversely, Grenache and Mourvèdre are given full south exposure. The vineyards are farmed with respect for nature. Though when you bring up the word, “Organic”, the Orliacs tend to roll their eyes a bit. Throughout their history, they have always avoided using chemical additives in their vineyards. But to them, the whole organic thing seems more like a marketing ploy than a basic way of doing things. Moreover, in the south, the disease pressures are much less than in other wine regions, so there is little spraying of any kind required.