At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Appellation
- Pic Saint Loup
- Grapes
- Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache
- Red wine
- Grande Cuvée Rouge
- Defining feature
- Terroir expression across the range
The Producer
Jean Orliac came to viticulture as a winegrower's grandson, an agronomist, and a viticultural economics researcher at the CNRS in Montpellier. He later dedicated himself to viticulture. Domaine de l'Hortus frames its work around expressing the singularity and character of each terroir across its range.
Place
The domaine's vineyards sit on the slopes of Pic Saint Loup, where grape planting follows exposure and position. Syrah grows on humid northern slopes, Mourvèdre on south facing hillsides beneath the Hortus cliffs, and Grenache in lower positions. Northern humidity suits Syrah, while the south facing hillsides give Mourvèdre a sunnier setting.
Wines
Grande Cuvée Rouge is the named red cuvée in the range. It is aged for 12 months in used oak casks in 225 and 400 litre formats. Used oak permits oxygen exchange and contributes seasoned wood notes, with less direct oak flavour than new oak.
In The Glass
Grande Cuvée Rouge is deep purple, with garrigue herbs and ripe black cherry on the nose. Cocoa and warm spices layer over the fruit. Fine grained tannins and lifted acidity carry the palate.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Grande Cuvée Rouge. It puts the red colour, the Pic Saint Loup appellation and the Grande Cuvée name on one label, making the domaine's named red wine concrete before comparing other expressions of the range.
Final Word
Domaine de l'Hortus joins Pic Saint Loup with Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache plantings. The range is made to express the singularity and character of each terroir.
Sources
1. https://www.infinivin.com/en/domaines/domaine-de-l-hortus-jean-orliac-233 2. https://www.libertywines.co.uk/our-portfolio/DH201-grande-cuvee-rouge 3. https://www.domaine-hortus.fr/en/expression-through-our-wines/