2021 SancerreDaniel Chotard
France | Loire
$39
Producers
In very few appellations throughout France and Italy do we import the wines of three or more domaines. Joining Bandol, Meursault, Morgon, and a few others in that short list is Pic Saint Loup, situated forty-five minutes north of Montpellier. We are devout fans of this Languedoc AOC nestled at the foot of the dramatic formation by the same name, which rises out of the land like a massive, rocky shark fin.
Behind the domaine Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup is the trio of Ravaille brothers, who somewhat extraordinarily not only have continued to make wine in harmony for three decades, but also have done so following biodynamic practices for nearly as long. In this warm, southern climate, their approach, as well as the cooling influence of the nearby Cévennes mountains, makes all the difference, resulting in wines that are remarkably fresh and mouthwatering while at the same time dense and full-bodied.
Tour de Pierres is a bottling that captures all of the soil types represented in their landholdings—a “tour of their stones,” if you will. Refreshing and vibrant despite its southerly roots, this bottling represents one of the best values, pound for pound, in our entire book. The deliciousness on display here shows a veteran domaine at the top of its game.
—Tom Wolf
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre |
Appellation: | Pic Saint Loup |
Country: | France |
Region: | Languedoc-Roussillon |
Producer: | Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup |
Winemaker: | Xavier, Pierre, and Jean-Marc Ravaille |
Vineyard: | 30 - 40 years, 20 ha |
Soil: | Red Clay |
Aging: | Aged in foudres and barriques for 12 months of which only 10-20% are new oak |
Farming: | Biodynamic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Pic Saint Loup
Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Pic Saint Loup
Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Pic Saint Loup
Domaine Leon Barral France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Faugères
Domaine d’Aupilhac France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Languedoc Montpeyroux
Domaine de Fontsainte France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Corbières
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.
Domaine d’Aupilhac France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Languedoc Montpeyroux
Domaine Leon Barral France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Faugères
Domaine Les Mille Vignes France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Château La Roque France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Pic Saint Loup
Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Pic Saint Loup
Domaine Les Mille Vignes France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Domaine d’Aupilhac France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Château La Roque France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Languedoc
Maxime Magnon France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Corbières
Domaine La Tour Vieille France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Selected By Kermit Lynch France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Languedoc
Mas Champart France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Saint-Chinian
You don’t have to be rich to cellar a great wine.
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