Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvee Red 2017 (Bettane & Desseauve: 16.5/20)

"Elegant, complex nose. Floral notes initially then opens to red and dark fruit, spice and chocolate. Lovely texture on the palate, the tannins dense but suave. A zesty freshness provides balance. Overall, very refined."
by James Lawther MW @ Jancis Robinson Blog (17 May 2023)

The most elegant, finesse and intellectual wine from Languedoc
Domaine L'Hortus - Pic-St-Loup (Cru of Languedoc, France)

L'Hortus Grande Cuvee Rouge Vintage 2013

當你明白 Pomerol 和 St-Emilion 的分別，應該會了解 L'Hortus 和其他 Languedoc 的分別，遊走在仙氣和優雅之間，從來都堅持忠實富韌力風格，並不是分數大氣候能輕易改變的。

開始是令人懷緬的紅黑樹莓果汁糖香，很快聯想到蘭花，接著英式糖果屋般的甘草在淺白橡木下包圍口腔。雖以 Syrah 和 Mourvèdre 為主，但那 5% Grenache 不是蓋的，在土壤感後湧上，充滿陽光力量。60% 白木 Syrah 充滿線條和幽香，喝到杯底還有淡淡皮革和黑橄欖香，難怪曾被酒友形容為『The Petrus of Languedoc』！當然要那位兄台應該喝過 Petrus 才會說出這種話！但我認為它是南法的永恆經典，非常值得一試！

Sens Team (23/12/2022)

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence / Ryuichi Sakamoto - From Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano 2022

Grande Cuvée 系列是 Domaine de l’Hortus 的旗艦之作，來自 Pic Saint Loup 最優質的葡萄園。這些園地擁有可靠的水源、優良的排水能力與深厚的土壤，能在炎熱的夏季保持葡萄樹健康，並確保果實成熟度一致。

酒莊選用老藤葡萄，展現出深植於當地風土的根基。這些葡萄在單寧、酸度與香氣之間達到天然平衡，為酒莊提供了絕佳的基礎。面對如此優質的葡萄，酒莊在浸漬與陳年上投入更多心力，以釋放葡萄的潛力。

Grande Cuvée Red 不僅是 Pic Saint Loup 風土的代表，更是 Domaine de l’Hortus 對精細工藝與土地承諾的體現。

產區保護條例：
南法 AOC Pic Saint Loup

產地：
法國 Languedoc

種類：
紅葡萄酒

風土：
於中腰斜坡生長，源自白堊紀時期的棕色石灰岩土壤。斜坡角度由 10%-30% 不等，海拔為 150 至 300 米。

葡萄品種：
60% Syrah, 35% Mourvèdre, 5% Grenache.

收成：
每公頃約 4,000 至 7,150 棵樹生產 25-30 hl / Ha

釀造：
葡萄去梗後輕柔壓搾，在大缸中發酵 25–30 日；再於 225 與 400 公升橡木桶中陳年 12 個月，包括新桶至兩年桶。

品酒筆記：
(Bettane & Desseauve, Wine Guide 2020: 16.5/20)
Grande Cuvée 比 La Bergerie 更具深度，在這個偏暖年份裏，因 Pic Saint Loup 的清新氣息而平衡，堪稱該產區的標竿之作。Grande Cuvée 名副其實：濃郁而複雜，帶有乾果、甘草、紫羅蘭、雲呢拿、紅莓及一絲薄荷的香氣。入口飽滿，單寧絲滑，酒體圓潤。餘韻悠長，優雅迷人！ 

This wine is exclusively crafted with old vines coming from the best parcels of Hortus vineyard.

The domaine is a family estate lying in a valley between two facing limestone cliffs, the Pic Saint Loup and the Montagne de L'Hortus. The word hortus is latin for "garden", a reference to the many gardens the Romans found, to their surprise, when they arrived in the area. Long before then, this valley and the many natural caves embedded in the surroundings, protective mountains are thought to have been one of the areas where Neanderthals found refuge.
 
Wines from the great terroir of Pic St Loup. The ‘Grande Cuvée’ wines, red and white, have their roots in the property’s loveliest land, where water supply is the most reliable. The land parcels benefit from the best weather conditions and the soils both drain well and are sufficiently deep to ensure water reserves protect the vines from summer drought. This results in homogenous maturity with the grapes developing an excellent balance between the quality of the tannins, acidity and aromas. These qualities mean more concentrated work with the grapes (long maceration) and the wine (long maturing in casks).

Appellation:
AOC Pic Saint Loup

Country of Origin:
Languedoc, France

Type:
Red/Rouge (Still)

Terroir:
Land parcels on mid-slope. Brown soil formed from limestone scree dating from the Cretaceous period. Hill slopes varying from 10 to 30% at altitudes from 150 – 300 metres.

Grape Varieties:
60% Syrah, 35% Mourvèdre, 5% Grenache.

Yields:
25 – 30hl/ha for land parcels with a density of between 4000 and 7150 plants per hectare.

Vinification:
De-stemmed and crushed, fermented 25–30 days in vats. Aged 12 months in 225- and 400-liter barrels, using new to two-year-old oak.

Tasting Notes:
(Bettane & Desseauve, Wine Guide 2020: 16.5/20)
With greater depth than La Bergerie, and well-suited to this rather warm vintage —balanced by the freshness of the Pic—the Grande Cuvée is more than ever a benchmark in the region. The Grande Cuvée from Domaine de l'Hortus lives up to its name: intense and highly complex, with notes of dried fruit, licorice, violet, vanilla, red berries, and a hint of mint. The attack on the palate is rich, with silky tannins, full-bodied and rounded. A beautiful finish, full of complexity and elegance — and what a long finish!



配餐小貼士：
很多人以為白酒才配海鮮，但在南法，紅酒其實是首選。皆因果香豐富，香草風味清新，紅酒輕量的單寧也可提鮮，深受南法人喜愛。L'Hortus Grand Cuvee，帶來馥郁的香草與香料，果味奔放而集中，正好與濃厚的法式海鮮湯 Bouillabaisse 互相呼應，令鮮味更上一層。

Pairing Tips:
Many assume white wine is the only match for seafood, but in southern France, red wine is often the local favorite. With vibrant fruit, fresh herbal notes, and gentle tannins that lift the flavors, it’s deeply loved by the region’s diners. L'Hortus Grande Cuvée offers aromatic herbs and spice with concentrated, expressive fruit, making it a bold yet balanced partner for the rich Provençal seafood stew Bouillabaisse, enhancing its depth and savor.