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2016 Pic Saint Loup Rouge “Mourvèdre”
Château La RoquePic Saint Loup
There’s nothing quite like old-vine Mourvèdre grown in rugged, rocky limestone to illustrate the notoriously rich, colorful spirit of southern France. Around the imposing vertical escarpment known as the Pic Saint Loup, abundant limestone litters the vineyard floor, balmy garrigue fragrances waft through the dry Mediterranean air, and the nearby mountains bring cool breezes that temper the at times stifling meridional heat.
La Roque’s old-vine Mourvèdre is consistently one of the finest values we import from any region. Rugged as the landscape from which it is born, this chewy red offers aromas of ripe black cherry and wild brush that beg for something hearty, grilled, and smothered with garlic and herbs. Mourvèdre of this breed is no stranger to aging, so put a few more bottles aside and see what happens.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2016 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 70% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah, 10% Grenache |
Appellation: | Languedoc Pic Saint Loup |
Country: | France |
Region: | Languedoc-Roussillon |
Producer: | Château La Roque |
Winemaker: | Cyriaque Rozier |
Vineyard: | 50 - 60 years, 18 ha |
Soil: | Scree slopes, Clay, Limestone |
Aging: | Aged in demi-muids (2,3,4, and 5 years old) for 18 months, aged in bottle for 6 months |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2021 Pic Saint Loup Rouge
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There is something timeless to La Roque’s Pic Saint Loup, its herbal bouquet and rich, fleshy texture, all free from any hint of modern trappings.
2020 Vin de France “Le Carignan”
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Old vines give this Carignan a supple, suede-like texture, along with loads of dark fruit, a peaty smokiness, and great minerality.
2022 Pays d’Oc Blanc “Les Traverses de Fontanès”
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2019 Faugères “Valinière”
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Valinière is a monumental demonstration of what happens when respectfully working the earth is not just a job, but one’s whole life.
2022 Pic Saint-Loup Rosé
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This rosé, so pale you need to hold it up to a light that flicker of rosé hue, blurs the line between rosé and blanc.
2022 Languedoc Blanc
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Lately you may have noticed a rise in freshness, a burst in aromatics, and a softness of texture in La Roque’s wines.
2020 Pays d’Oc Rouge “Les Vieilles Vignes de Mourvèdre”
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Cherry-cheeked and ebullient, this old-vine Mourvèdre acts anything but its age. Pure fun and drinkability; black cherry, citrus and stone. Age ain't nothing but a number!
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Evaporation over time has concentrated the wine, giving it considerable strength to go with its trademark rancio aromas of walnuts and brine.
2020 Collioure Rouge “La Pinède”
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If you can’t make it to the south of France this year, here’s a way to bring the Mediterranean sun to you.
2020 Pic Saint Loup Rouge “Cupa Numismae”
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It’s dense, noble, with grip and grit, the kind of cuvée that could generate a lot of awe and attention... and also a much higher price tag.
About The Producer
Château La Roque
About The Region
Languedoc-Roussillon
Ask wine drinkers around the world, and the word “Languedoc” is sure to elicit mixed reactions. On the one hand, the region is still strongly tied to its past as a producer of cheap, insipid bulk wine in the eyes of many consumers. On the other hand, it is the source of countless great values providing affordable everyday pleasure, with an increasing number of higher-end wines capable of rivaling the best from other parts of France.
While there’s no denying the Languedoc’s checkered history, the last two decades have seen a noticeable shift to fine wine, with an emphasis on terroir. Ambitious growers have sought out vineyard sites with poor, well draining soils in hilly zones, curbed back on irrigation and the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and looked to balance traditional production methods with technological advancements to craft wines with elegance, balance, and a clear sense of place. Today, the overall quality and variety of wines being made in the Languedoc is as high as ever.
Shaped like a crescent hugging the Mediterranean coast, the region boasts an enormous variety of soil types and microclimates depending on elevation, exposition, and relative distance from the coastline and the cooler foothills farther inland. While the warm Mediterranean climate is conducive to the production of reds, there are world-class whites and rosés to be found as well, along with stunning dessert wines revered by connoisseurs for centuries.
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2022 Pays d’Oc Cabernet Sauvignon “Les Traverses”
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
You don’t have to be rich to cellar a great wine.