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Spotlight on Pic St Loup
The wines of Domaine de l'Hortus, Pic St Loup, Coteaux du Langudeoc

SARL Jean Orliac, Domaine de l’Hortus, 34270 Valflaunes, France
Tel: +33 4 67 55 31 20 Fax: +33 4 67 55 38 03

Domaine de l’Hortus is one of the standard bearers of the soon to be AOC Pic St Loup (currently a cru of the Coteaux du Languedoc). In 1979 Jean and Marie-Thérèse Orliac planted some abandoned land at the foot of two dramatic cliffs, the Pic St Loup and the Montagne de l’Hortus. They also built a distinctive winery, constructed mostly of wood.

In total, they now have 55 hectares of vines, split over two sites, with 43 ha red grapes and 12 ha white. The main vineyard area is near the winery, where Mourvedre grows on the hot scree slope under the Montagne de l’Hortus, whereas Grenache and Syrah are grown on a northeast facing slope under the Pic St Loup, with a cooler microclimate. The second vineyard area is situated some 25 km away, at Clos St Jean.

Production figures: 30 000 bottles Rosé; 150 000 bottles Bergerie red; 75 000 Domaine red; 40 000 Bergerie white; and 18 000 bottles Domaine white. Vine age averages 18 years and yields are typically 35–45 hl/ha. Available in the UK from Lea & Sandeman and other independent wine merchants.

Bergerie de l’Hortus Rosé 2001 Pic St Loup, Coteaux du Languedoc
This is a rosé de saignée (made from bleeding off a maximum of 10% of the juice from the red vats after crushing, to increase the skins to juice ratio). Nice full flavours with some ripe herby fruit. Quite rich. Very good

Bergerie de l’Hortus 2001 Pic St Loup, Coteaux du Languedoc
This shows attractive ripe berry fruits with some nice savouriness, some spiciness and a hint of meaty complexity. A nice drinker. Very good

Domaine de l’Hortus 2000 Pic St Loup, Coteaux du Languedoc
Two thirds aged in new oak, one third in second-use barrels. Ripe, herby spicy berry fruit on the nose, with lovely savoury, meaty edge. There’s a pretty floral character to the nose. The attractive ripe palate is showing overt woodiness at the moment, which will hopefully integrate better with time. A lovely wine. Very good/excellent

Domaine de l’Hortus 1998 Pic St Loup, Coteaux du Languedoc
Sensational nose is spicy and herby with meaty olive-like complexity. The palate is ripe and dense with lots of rich berry fruit. Attractively savoury with some oak. Very good/excellent

Clos du Prieur 2000 Coteaux du Languedoc
This property was purchased 4 years ago – it lies 20 km west of Pic St Loup. Ripe fruit on the rich spicy nose. Good concentration of pure, juicy fruit on the palate with a spicy finish and quite a bit of oak. Very good+

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