Wines

Domains

L'Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup
Cuvee Sainte Agnes Rouge, 2006

AOC Pic-Saint-Loup

A super wine made from grapes harvested mainly from vineyards high up on the side of the Pic Saint Loup mountain. The wine is full of interest developing and opening quickly in the glass and mouth to reveal a broad aroma spectrum. Those aromas include much cassis, and strawberry fruit, with violet, mocha, bramble sweet spice, white pepper, etc. The flavours are equally complex, after an initial burst of fruit, the violet returns with chocolate and gravy notes and with so much complex spice it is near impossible to describe. The tannins are ripe, very smooth and fine grained, and developing well. The finish is long and lingering.

Maturity: A lovely wine now, but it will repay further aging improving over at least the next three years. It will then be at its peak for at least another six to eight years (2012 – 20)

Food: today it is at its best decanted and drunk with rich meat dishes including rare roast lamb and richer red meat dishes that possibly incorporate a sauce. In three or four years it will also be fantastic with stronger game, like a rabbit stew, or wild boar in a sauce. It will also be good with richer vegetarian food that incorporates cooked cheese or strong mushrooms.

Varieties: 50% Syrah
40% Grenache Noir
10% Mourvèdre

Yields: <30 hl/ha

Vinification:

Destemmed grapes vinified separately by parcel and variety
Pigeage up to four times a day during the 14 – 20 day temperature controlled fermentation
Aged partly in oak barriques with up to 20% new for 14 months
Blended 1 month before bottling