Wines

Domains

L'Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup
L'Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup, Cuvee Sainte Agnes Blanc, 2007

AOC Coteaux du Languedoc

This complex dry white wine has a pale golden tone, and aromas of blossom, honeysuckle, white peach, grapefruit, and notes of ripe russet apples and a little sweet spice. The flavour profile is equally complex, mirroring the nose, but with the fruit more to the fore along with a touch of oily, buttery nuttiness, before the floral and spicy notes come through the mid-palate to set up a lovely touch of minerality and lemon on the finish. The wine has a lovely freshness, great balance and great persistence of flavour.

Maturity: At peak now, but will drink well until at least 2011

Food: Very versatile, lovely as an aperitif, but equally at home with food, try it with white fish, pork or poultry dishes, particularly those with a sauce. It is perfect for that roast turkey at Christmas, and it also combines fantastically with goat’s cheese, and goat’s and soft sheep’s cheese based dishes.

Varieties: 50% Roussanne
                  20% Clairette
                 15% Marsanne
                 15% Grenache Blanc

Yields : <30 hl/ha

Terroir: Two thirds dolimitic limestone at 300+ m altitude and other stony limestone based soils

Vinification:

Hand picked grapes pressed on arrival at the cellar
Temperature controlled fermentation and aging in barriques, demi-muids and foudres
Occasional batonnage/lees stirring as needed
Bottled after 14 months aging